New Books: 9 February 2021
Note: the Locus Online editor has stepped down from producing New Books posts, and we are in the process of rebuilding the workflow. Thank you for your patience as we do this.
Deas, Stephen: The Moonsteel Crown 
(Angry Robot US 978-0-857668769 $14.99, 384pp, trade paperback, February 9, 2021)
The Emperor of Aria is dead, and three junior members of a street gang are unwittingly caught up in the ensuing struggle for the throne, in the first epic adventure in a new fantasy world.
Leigh, Stephen: Amid the Crowd of Stars 
(DAW 978-0-7564-1569-3 $26, 348pp, hardcover, February 9, 2021)
Innovative science fiction novel that explores the potential impact of alien infection on humankind as they traverse the stars and find themselves stranded on new and strange planets.
Stilson, Janet: The Juice 
(Dragon Moon Press 978-1-774000229 $18.95, 343pp, trade paperback, February 9, 2021)
Dystopian cyberpunk tale, with espionage and romance, about the threat of pervasive media influence.
Frohock, T. A: Song with Teeth 
(Harper Voyager US 978-0-06-282577-3 $18.99, 432pp, trade paperback, February 9, 2021)
Historical fantasy novel set in WWII Europe. Allied forces battle to defeat the Nazis as a shadow war rages between angels and daimons who are fighting for the soul of humanity. Third and final book in the Los Nephilim series.
Shusterman, Neal: Game Changer 
(HarperCollins/Quill Tree 978-0-06-199867-6 $17.99, 400pp, hardcover, February 9, 2021)
Young-adult football/fantasy novel about a teen hit by a football who starts bouncing through alternate worlds, forcing him to face his privilege.
Smejkal, Kim: Curse of the Divine 
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 978-1-328637253 $17.99, 448pp, hardcover, February 9, 2021)
Young-adult dark fantasy novel featuring magical tattoos, second in the Ink in the Blood duology.
Dalglish, David: Voidbreaker 
(Orbit US 978-0-316-41673-3 $16.99, 512pp, trade paperback, February 9, 2021)
When magical creatures storm the gates of Londheim and claim it for themselves, Devin, a warrior priest, must decide who the true monsters are. Final book in The Keepers series.
Frey, Dan: The Future Is Yours 
(Penguin Random House/Del Rey 978-0-59318210, $27.00, 339pp, hardcover, February 9, 2021)
Two best friends create a computer that can predict the future. In development as an HBO Max series.
Forna, Namina: The Gilded Ones 
(Penguin Random House/Delacorte 978-1984848697 $18.99, 422pp, hardcover, February 9, 2021)
Young-adult fantasy novel inspired by West Africa. Deka’s gold blood condemns her to life in the army. First book in the Deathless series.
Hamilton, Laurell K.: Rafael 
(Penguin Random House/Jove 978-0-593332917, $7.99, 268pp, mass market paperback, February 9, 2021)
Paranormal romance/horror novel, Book 28 in the Anita Blake series.
Cheng’en, Wu: Monkey King: Journey to the West 
(Penguin Random House/Penguin Classics 9780143107187 $30, 384pp, hardcover, February 9, 2021)
Classic Chinese fantasy novel about the magical Monkey King (Sun Wukong) who aids a Buddhist monk’s travels. This is a new translation by Julia Lovell, who provides an introduction and notes. Foreword by Gene Luen Yang.
Pelayo, Cynthia: Children of Chicago 
(Polis Books/Agora 978-1-947993-86-0, $26.00, 208pp, hardcover, February 9, 2021)
Dark fantasy fairytale inspired by the story of the Pied Piper. Chicago detective investigates a series of murdered children.
Cypher, Ellie: The Girl from Shadow Springs 
(Simon & Schuster 978-1-5344-6569-5, $19.99, 320pp, hardcover, February 9, 2021)
Two teens who must brave a frozen wasteland and the foes within it to save their loved ones and uncover a deadly secret. YA debut fantasy.
Osborne, Karen: Engines of Oblivion 
(Tor 978-1-250-21550-5 $17.99 SF novel, 416pp, trade paperback, February 9, 2021)
Science fiction action/adventure, sequel to Architects of Memory, where the corporations who run the galaxy are about to learn that not everyone can be bought.
de Bodard, Aliette: Fireheart Tiger 
(Tordotcom 978-1-250-79326-3 $13.99, 106pp, trade paperback, February 9, 2021)
Romantic fantasy novella, set in a world inspired by pre-colonial Viet Nam.
…a quiet, powerful story of power and resistance, of control and affection, and of the nature of constraint and alliance in both politics and personal relationships. [. . .] Gorgeous and moving, with a sense of scale and an intimate, personal engagement with compelling characters, Fireheart Tiger is a worthy addition to de Bodard’s body of work. I enjoyed it greatly.
—Liz Bourke, Locus Magazine (Jan 2021)
Arnott, Robbie The Rain Heron 
(Macmillan/FSG Originals 978-0-374-53930-6 $15.99, 288pp, trade paperback, February 9, 2021)
Post-apocalyptic ecological fantasy novel about two women searching for a legendary bird that can change the weather.
Tudor, C.J.: The Burning Girls 
(Penguin Random House/Ballantine 978-1-984825025, $27.00, 352pp, hardcover, February 9, 2021)
Horror novel with supernatural elements. A new vicar’s teen daughter starts having visions of burning girls.
Knox, Elizabeth: The Absolute Book 
(Penguin Random House/Viking 978-0-593-29673-8, $28.00, 637pp, hardcover, February 9, 2021)
Fantasy novel set in three worlds: contemporary England and Auckland, a fairy land, and Purgatory. Taryn Comick gets questioned about library fires, including one in her grandparents’ home.
