First, it exiles them from their homeland of Dilmun in the face of a devastating plague then, as a refugee in the Free Democratic City State of Qilwa, the discovery of more rotting bodies makes them a scapegoat all over again.įor over thirty years, R.A. But just like the unpredictability of our own blood, Firuz-e Jafari finds that their magic is difficult to control and carries various social taboos. I find narratives about magic especially compelling when that power draws from the body, like Naseem Jamnia’s debut fantasy that centers on blood magic. But of course, the restless hustle can’t last forever, and when journalist Jamie Vega gets implicated in his boss’ death, he must come clean about the unethical way in which he has achieved Sleeplessness… and potentially face a future in which he must once again close his eyes. But Victor Manibo’s take stands apart from other cautionary tales by arguing that Sleeplessness might actually… be good? Citizens who evolve out of circadian rhythms are able to optimize their time (for more money, naturally) and establish themselves as both inspirational and fearsome among their puny peers who need to waste eight hours of rest. It’s fair to say the last five years have made insomniacs out of many of us, so a near-future tale about our world altered by a pandemic of sleeplessness sounds very real. But when Devon learns that her son needs not words, but actual thoughts, to survive, she must decide what primal darkness she is willing to tap into to protect her child over her Family. But not all book eaters are equal girls and boys are allowed different book diets designed to keep them trapped in old gender roles. In her world, beings like The Family literally consume books, each with a unique taste (spy capers are snacks, romances are decadent dessert). Think Jasper Fforde’s series about characters who literally fall into a good book, but Sunyi Dean’s debut fantasy has a darker edge to it. It seems as if almost every publisher has something to offer this month: the magic of consuming stories and bending words for translations, or blood magic that leaves the deepest of bruises fake soothsayers and real witches yearning fantasy romance and incisive dark academia that brings to light the evil in our own world.īooks about the magic of reading are just the best, and it’s a delight to watch writers find new and inventive ways to make metaphor out of our love of the written page. There’s no better way to beat this brutal heat than to retreat to the nearest air-conditioned place, be it your home or public transportation, with one of this month’s many promising SF and Fantasy reads.

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