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The second half of 2014 is upon us! (Already? Where did this first half of the year go? Seriously, I want some of that time back.) Which means it’s time for my semi-regular post about which books* I’m looking forward to seeing in the latter part of the year.

*By persons who aren’t blokes. Though as always: yes, there are books by guys which I’m looking forward to, too.

July has five interesting books. I’m really looking forward to Elizabeth Bear’s One-Eyed Jack, her long-awaited return to her Promethean Age universe—it promises notorious fictional assassins and magic turf wars!—and to Michelle Sagara’s continuation of her long-running Chronicles of Elantra series, Cast in Flame. But there are two writers making their fantasy debuts this month, and both of them sound entertaining: Erika Johansen, with The Queen of the Tearling, about a princess who has to reclaim her throne; and Carrie Patel, with The Buried Life, whose cover copy makes it sound like a really attractive gaslamp-fantasy murder mystery. Also this month, acclaimed Young Adult author Mary E. Pearson (author of The Adoration of Jenna Fox) is opening a new fantasy series with The Kiss of Deception.

Next up’s August, which is nearly as full of books. It has four relevant to my interests. The stand-out to look forward to is Kameron Hurley’s The Mirror Empire, first in a new and brutal epic fantasy series. I’m excited: are you? August’s second offering is Livia Blackburne’s Young Adult debut, The Midnight Thief, whose cover copy involves thieves and assassins and makes the book sound like a lot of fun. Then there’s Karina Sumner-Smith’s Radiant, which looks like it could be really, really interesting. And to wrap things up, Lilith Saintcrow continues her Bannon and Clare series of steampunk adventures with The Ripper Affair.

What about September? Well, September brings us a new book from Karen Miller. The Falcon Throne is the first volume in a new epic fantasy series, and advance buzz is pretty positive. Sarah Rees Brennan is wrapping up her heart-rending Lynburn Legacy gothic-English-country-town trilogy with Unmade (I have marked my calendar). Debut author Erin Lindsey brings us a fantasy novel that sounds entertainingly full of derring-do, with The Bloodbound. Jean Johnson’s third space opera novel, Hardship (sequel to An Officer’s Duty), should also hit the shelves, and so should Susan Murray’s fantasy debut out of Angry Robot, The Waterborne Blade. And Cherie Priest’s novel starring Lizzie Borden, Maplecroft, is also due out. And last but not least of the things that’ve caught my eye: Legends of Red Sonja, the trade paperback collection from Dynamic of Red Sonja stories, including by Tamora Pierce and Gail Simone and Marjorie Liu and a long list of other excellent names. (Yes, after reading Red Sonja: Queen of Plagues, I am a Red Sonja fan. MORE SONJA!)

Which brings us to October! October brings us MORE SONJA, in the form of Red Sonja: The Art of Blood and Fire, written by Gail Simone. October also brings us the highly-anticipated Ancillary Sword, by Ann Leckie, sequel to the multiple-award-winning Ancillary Justice and a book I’m willing to commit murder to read. Then there’s Jacqueline Carey’s Poison Fruit, the third instalment in her Agent of Hel urban fantasy series. There’s also Beth Bernobich’s The Time Roads, which involves alternate history and time travel and mathematics. And Madeline Ashby adds another to her lengthening list of science fiction novels with standalone Company Town, set on an oil rig in the Canadian Maritimes.

October also brings us three more debuts: Chrysler Szarlan’s creepy-sounding The Hawley Book of the Dead, Rebecca Alexander’s century-spanning mystery The Secrets of Life and Death, and Ishbelle Bee’s The Singular & Extraordinary Tale of Mirror & Goliath—which involves, according to its cover copy, shapeshifters, lords of the underworld, and people being locked inside clocks.

Now we’re to November. Fans of Mira Grant will be happy to note that Symbiont is due out this month—but so are other books in which I’m personally more interested. Like Tanya Huff’s The Future Falls, the next book in her loosely-connected Enchantment Emporium series, which I’m really looking forward to. Sarah Zettel’s Dangerous Deceptions, the second book in her new Young Adult series, following on from last year’s Palace of Spies. Tomb Raider: Season of the Witch, written by Gail Simone, the trade paperback collection of the comics that form a sequel to the (excellent) videogame. And last but not least, Jacey Bedford’s debut novel from DAW, Empire of Dust, a science fiction novel of psi powers and betrayal that sounds like a whole hell of a lot of fun.

Which brings us, at last, to December. I haven’t managed to identify many novels-relevant-to-my-interests due out this month. Alas, just one. But that one’s an excellent capstone to the year: with Undercity, Catherine Asaro begins a new series in her Skolian Empire universe. A new series about Major Bhaajan, Private Investigator, in the dark streets of the capital. And you know what? I’m really looking forward to reading it.

 

So, people! Let’s hear it: are there any books by women you’re particularly looking forward to? Any from the books I’ve mentioned you want to talk about? So many books! So little time!


Liz Bourke is a cranky person who reads books. Her blog. Her Twitter.

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Liz Bourke

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Liz Bourke is a cranky queer person who reads books. She holds a Ph.D in Classics from Trinity College, Dublin. Her first book, Sleeping With Monsters, a collection of reviews and criticism, was published in 2017 by Aqueduct Press. It was a finalist for the 2018 Locus Awards and was nominated for a 2018 Hugo Award in Best Related Work. She was a finalist for the inaugural 2020 Ignyte Critic Award, and has also been a finalist for the BSFA nonfiction award. She lives in Ireland with an insomniac toddler, her wife, and their two very put-upon cats.
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