New Books : 24 November 2020

New books this week are by R.J. Barker, Holly Black, Ernest Cline, Paul Cornell, Mark De Jager, S.C. Emmett, Benedict Jacka, Mercedes Lackey, Mur Lafferty & S.B. Divya, Kalayna Price, and Nora Roberts.


* Barker, R. J. : Call of the Bone Ships
(Orbit 978-0-356-51184-9, $16.99, 528pp, trade paperback, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780316487986
The Tide Child Trilogy #2

Fantasy novel, second in a trilogy following The Bone Ships (2019), about the reappearance of dragons in a land of endless war.
• Hachette’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “Awe-inspiring set pieces, including a gigantic sea dragon rising out of an island’s shattered fragments, will especially delight fantasy fans. Series readers will be pleased.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Black, Holly : How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories
(Little, Brown 978-0316540889, $17.99, 200pp, hardcover, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780316540827
Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9781549187537
Folk of the Air #4

Young adult fantasy novel, a new installment in the Folk of the Air trilogy that ended with The Queen of Nothing (2019), about the high king Cardan.
• The book has illustrations by Rovina Cai.
• Hachette’s site has this description with an excerpt.
Publishers Weekly has this Q&A with the author about the book.

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Cline, Ernest : Ready Player Two
(Ballantine 978-1524761332, $28.99, 384pp, hardcover, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9781524761356
Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9780593396957
Ready Player #2

SF novel, sequel to Ready Player One (2011), about another trip into virtual reality OASIS to find an Easter egg left by its creator.
• Penguin Random House’s site has this description with an excerpt.

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Cornell, Paul : Last Stand in Lychford
(Tordotcom 978-1250752130, $15.99, 192pp, trade paperback, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9781250752123
Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9781250808790
Witches of Lychford #5

Short fantasy novel, fifth in a series following Witches of Lychford (2015), The Lost Child of Lychford (2016), A Long Day in Lychford (2017), and The Lights Go Out in Lychford (2019), about a small hamlet that lies on the border between two worlds.
• Macmillan’s site has this description.
Publishers Weekly said of the previous book, “Written with Cornell’s characteristic verve, Lychford buzzes with its own magic, and its characters brim with life. Series fans will be shocked and moved by the developments in this efficient story, and look forward to the next.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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+ De Jager, Mark : Infernal
(Solaris 978-1-78108-817-3, $11.99, 384pp, trade paperback, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9781786183675
The Chronicles of Stratus #1

Fantasy novel about a stranger with little memory of his past who awakes in a war-torn kingdom.
• Rebellion’s site has this description.
• The UK edition was published in 2016 and shortlisted for the David Gemmel Legend Award.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “De Jager takes his time with the mystery of Stratus’s identity, punctuating the internal conflict with adrenaline-fueled action sequences that notch up the tension and suspense. This promising series launch brings the goods.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Emmett, S. C. : The Poison Prince
(Orbit 978-0-316-45342-4, $16.99, 560pp, trade paperback, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780316453417
Hostage of Empire #2

East-Asia inspired epic fantasy novel, second in a series following The Throne of the Five Winds (2019).
• Hachette’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The book is copyright by Lilith Saintcrow.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “…Emmett’s worldbuilding is sophisticated and captivating, hinting at a larger culture even as the novel remains narrowly focused on the petty intrigues of the court. New readers may have trouble catching up, but returning fans will find plenty to enjoy.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Jacka, Benedict : Forged
(Ace 978-0-440-00060-0, $7.99, 304pp, mass market paperback, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780440000617
Alex Verus #11

Urban fantasy novel, eleventh in a series following Fated (March 2012), Cursed (June 2012), Taken (Sept. 2012), Chosen (2013), Hidden (2014), Veiled (2105), Burned (2016), Bound (2017), Marked (2018), and Fallen (2019), about a London magician who can foresee the future.
• Penguin Random House’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The Publishers Weekly review comments, “Jacka has a gift for writing wild magical battles as simultaneously slapstick and pulse-pounding, as well as the discipline to shed characters and lore from previous volumes when they’re no longer necessary to the plot, keeping this long-running series feeling trim and accessible.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Lackey, Mercedes, ed. : Passages
(DAW 978-0756414726, $8.99, 336pp, mass market paperback, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780756414733

Anthology of 19 original stories set in Lackey’s world of Valdemar, including an original story by Lackey.
• Other authors include Jennifer Brozek, Michele Lang, Brenda Cooper, and Larry Dixon.
• Penguin Random House’s site has this description with an excerpt.

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Lafferty, Mur, & S. B. Divya, eds. : Escape Pod: The Science Fiction Anthology
(Titan 978-1-78909-501-2, $15.95, 336pp, trade paperback, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9781789095029

Anthology of 15 stories, several reprints but mostly original, celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Escape Pod podcast.
• Authors include Ken Liu, James Patrick Kelly, Mary Robinette Kowal, Cory Doctorow, and N.K. Jemisin.
• Penguin Random House’s site has this description.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “Some stories were written specifically for the podcast, and readers will surely hear the distinctive voices of the characters in their heads in tales such as T. Kingfisher’s ‘Report of Dr. Hollowmas on the Incident at Jackrabbit Five,’ presented as a pedantically logical AI’s interview of a laconic space veterinarian. The result is sure to please.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Price, Kalayna : Grave War
(Ace 978-1-984805-95-9, $7.99, 416pp, mass market paperback, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9781984805966
Alex Craft #7

Urban fantasy novel, seventh and last novel in a series following Grave Witch (2010), Grave Dance (2011), Grave Memory (2012), Grave Visions (2016), Grave Ransom (2017), and Grave Destiny (2019), about Alex Craft, a police consultant who can communicate with the dead.
• Penguin Random House’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “Price provides a satisfying, slightly melancholy end to the series that serves as a jam-packed adventure in its own right while gracefully wrapping up most of the series’ ongoing story lines. Fans will not be disappointed.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Roberts, Nora : The Awakening
(St. Martin’s 978-1-250-27261-4, $28.99, 448pp, hardcover, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 24 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9781250272607
Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9781250770271
Dragon Heart Legacy #1

Fantasy novel, first in a series, about a young Philadelphia woman who discovers a family legacy that leads her to a magic portal in Galway.
• Macmillan’s site has this description.
• Amazon’s “Look Inside” function provides previews.
• The Publishers Weekly review calls it a “heartwarming story of a woman finding her true self across parallel worlds.”

• 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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