17 new fantasy and science fiction books to read in November 2024
By Daniel Roman
Spooky season has passed, and across the realm all the ghosts and goblins are returning to their slumber. October had a lot of great fantasy and science fiction book releases, so many that there's no way you, I, or anyone else has read them all. But time waits for no one and neither do book publishers, who are launching a whole new volley of titles at our bookshelves this November. After all, it is still pumpkin spice season, which means that it's perfect for curling up with a good story!
As we do most every month here at Winter Is Coming, we've rounded up a bunch of the hottest fantasy and science fiction books hitting shelves this month (or ebook stores, it's a brave new world). And there are a lot of books coming out in November. From cozy fantasies to epic sagas, from sci-fi horror to space opera, from debut novels to highly-anticipated sequels, there's a wide enough variety of books to suit many a genre readers' tastes. There's even a book based on a cult classic comic and movie character who's now appearing in novel form for the very first time!
Since this is a pretty big list, let's waste no more time with pleasantries, and get to the books!
BROKEN STARS by Jeremy Szal — November 1
Let's start off with a spot of short fiction. Broken Stars is the latest book from Jeremy Szal, author of the sci-fi novels Stormblood and Blindspace. This is Szal's first short fiction collection. It contains 18 short stories, some previously published and others which are being released for the very first time in this collection.
Those stories range from military sci-fi to science fantasy to space opera and other subgenre niches. It includes stories about a smuggler of alien drugs who finds herself dangerously out of her depth, a nonhuman mercenary who must escort a king through a hostile besieged city, and a warrior who discovers her memories are not her own — and that she may have been on the wrong side of a terrible conflict. Short fiction can be a great way to switch up your reading from novels, and if you enjoy sci-fi, Szal's Broken Stars could be worth a look.
INTERSTELLAR MEGACHEF by Lavanya Lakshminarayan (Flavour Hacker #1) — November 5
Have you ever wished you could experience a cooking competition like The Great British Bakeoff, but in space with all the trappings of sci-fi? No? Well that's probably because you never thought about it, but Lavanya Lakshminarayan has done that for you with her latest cozy sci-fi novel Interstellar Megachef.
Saras Kaveri has traveled a long way to try and win the most famous cooking competition in the galaxy...but there's a catch. Saras is from Earth, a planet which most others view as having primitive, uninviting cuisine. Determined to win the Interstellar Megachef competition, Saras and her little robot Kili cross paths with a corporate prodigy named Serenity Ko, who's on the lookout for a new project. Serenity wants to create a simulator for food...except she has no idea how to cook. Their partnership could change the way people experience their cuisine forever.
Interstellar Megachef sounds like such a fun book, the good vibes practically roll off it. This is a perfect read if you're looking for something a bit lighter and filled with heart and humor this November.
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THE SWARM by Andy Marino — November 5
October may be over, but it's never the wrong time to read a book that will send chills down your spine. The Swarm is the latest novel from horror author Andy Marino. It's about an apocalyptic struggle to survive against a cicada invasion which is leaving people dead and humanity on the brink of extinction.
As Detective Vicky Patterson begins an investigation into a bizarre murder, her daughter is suddenly attacked by a swarm of the insects emerging out of sync from their natural 17-year cycle. Meanwhile, a pair of dysfunctional private investigators named Will and Alicia track a shadowy cult responsible for the disappearance of a young girl, which leads to them being trapped in a hotel by a cicada swarm.
As the cicada invasion spirals outward to consume more and more of the Earth, these disparate investigators and other survivors have to band together to get to the bottom of what's causing the destruction, and find a way through it. The Swarm reminds me of the sort of premise I'd expect out of something like a Michael Crichton book, which is to say that this sounds like a read that's equal parts fascinating and thrilling.
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REVENANT-X by David Wellington (Red Space #2) — November 5
Continuing on to other terrors, November will also see the release of Revenant-X by David Wellington, which is the sequel to his 2023 novel Paradise-1. The first book followed Firewatch inspector Alexandra Petrova and her crew as they went on a mission to humanity's first deep space colony, after all communications from the settlers there went dark.
Except they didn't quite make it there in the first book, because they were waylaid investigating an abandoned blockade of ships from the colony which held terrifying alien secrets. Having survived their ordeal, Alexandra Petrova and her allies can now continue on toward their original destination, the Paradise-1 colony. What fresh horrors await them there?
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SHADOW LAB edited by Brendan Deneen — November 5
Sticking with sci-fi, our next book is another short fiction collection, this time featuring multiple authors each weaving their own tales of paranormal activities. Shadow Lab is edited by The Ninth Circle author Brendan Deneen and features seven short stories, including a brand new tale from Nicholas Sansbury Smith set in the world of his Hell Divers series. In it, a man and his dog have to fight nightmarish creatures on a post-apocalyptic Earth in order to get back to their home in the sky.
Smith's story isn't the only one with an intriguing hook. "In Clouds" by Brian Francis Slattery follows a married couple who finds themselves on opposite sides of a brewing conflict over humanity's reaction to a newly arrived alien species. And "In Her Eyes" by Rebecca Webb follows a woman who gets a strange new pair of glasses, which lets her peer into the life of their previous owner. She soon develops an unhealthy obsession with the reckless woman who once wore them, which leads her down a dangerous path.
Those are just a couple of the stories in Shadow Lab. To find out what the rest are about, you'll have to check out this thought-provoking sci-fi anthology when it comes out on November 5.
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THE TELLER OF SMALL FORTUNES by Julie Leong — November 5
Believe it or not, we're still on the very first week of book releases for November — I did say there were a lot of books coming this month. Next we step away from the heavier sci-fi and back into the realm of more heartwarming stories with The Teller of Small Fortunes, the debut cozy fantasy novel from Julie Leong, which sounds ridiculously charming and fun.
Tao is an immigrant fortuneteller who travels from village to village with only her trusty mule as a companion. She's got a personal code of sticking to only "small" fortunes, like predicting the weather or "which boy the barmaid will kiss." This keeps Tao from getting entangled in difficult situations, since she knows all too well that "big fortunes come with big consequences."
But then Tao ends up getting recruited by a retired thief and a mercenary to help track down a missing child, and crosses paths with a "baker with a 'knead' for adventure" and a magical cat. She gradually begins to let down the walls she's kept up around herself as she travels with this found family and has to face the question of whether she'll be able to hang on to these relationships which are beginning to take root in her heart. If you're looking for a fantasy book in the vein of Legend & Lattes that will make you feel like you're wrapped in a warm blanket this November, The Teller of Small Fortunes is one to add to your TBR.
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THE LOTUS EMPIRE by Tasha Suri (The Burning Kingdoms #3) — November 12
Moving on at last to the second week of November, we've gotta start with one of the most notable fantasy releases of the month. The Lotus Empire is the third and final book in The Burning Kingdoms trilogy by Tasha Suri. If you've already read the first two books, you don't need me to tell you how amazing Suri's fantasy series is...and if you haven't checked these books out yet and like epic fantasy, this is a series you won't want to miss.
The Burning Kingdoms is an Indian-inspired sapphic fantasy saga about a priestess and a princess who are drawn together against overwhelming odds. It features nature-oriented magic infused with a healthy dose of body horror, complex political wrangling between nations and an oppressive empire, and a romance that grows ever more complicated and heart-wrenching as the series goes on.
If you're new to the series, you'll want to start with The Jasmine Throne and The Oleander Sword. But chances are good if you're excited about The Lotus Empire, it's because you read those already and have been dying to know what happens next for Priya and Malini. And now, we finally find out!
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THE RELENTLESS LEGION by J. S. Dewes (The Divide #3) — November 12
Another series getting a third installment this month is The Divide, a space opera by author J. S. Dewes. The first two books, The Last Watch and The Exile, are often compared to The Expanse. They feature a ragtag group known as the Sentinels who share some similarities with the Night's Watch from A Song of Ice and Fire. The Sentinels guard the edge of the known galaxy, the titular Divide, to safeguard humanity.
In The Relentless Legion, a terrible threat is unleashed and the Sentinels are the only hope for staving off a "horrifying genetic solution" which threatens to cause widespread devastation. Led by a seasoned commander named Adequin Rake and an exiled prince named Cavalon Mercer, they'll need every edge they can get. Can they round up enough allies in time to stop the threat before irreversible damage is done?
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BREATH OF OBLIVION by Maurice Broaddus (Astra Black #2) — November 12
Breath of Oblivion is the second volume in the Astra Black trilogy by Maurice Broaddus, a space opera which follows the progress of the Muungano Empire, a coalition of city-states which spans from Earth to Saturn's moon Titan. This series has a sprawling cast of characters who give us varying perspectives on the empire's advance and the challenges it faces along the way. Astra Black has been pitched as having elements similar to The Expanse with some of the futuristic worldbuilding of Black Panther. And yeah. that sounds awesome.
The sprawling cast feels like it really sets this series apart; the back-of-book description tells us about six characters in locations as varied as Mars, a comandeered alien ship, the slums of Indianapolis, and the Dreaming City — aka the "lunar heart" of the Muungano Empire. Astra Black is a series with deep lore where a reader could easily lose themselves in all the details, which is just how we like it.
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OVERCAPTAIN by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. (Saga of Recluse #24) — November 12
Speaking of insanely detailed fictional worlds, November also brings with it a brand new Saga of Recluse novel. Author L.E. Modesitt, Jr. is a veteran fantasy writer who has been putting out books in this long-running series for over 30 years; this latest book, Overcaptain, is the 24th Recluse novel.
That might sound daunting if you've never picked up a novel in the Saga of Recluse series, but this isn't a typical series where the books run in sequential order. Instead, Modesitt, Jr. explores uses each book to explore the history of his world and its various factions, meaning you can jump in in a number of different places. Because of that, the tone of the books tends to vary; there are stories where newcomers are stranded on the world of Recluse, stories that feel more like traditional sword-and-sorcery tales, and more. Overcaptain is the direct sequel to 2023's From the Forest, which started a new story arc about Alayiakal, a soldier rising through the ranks with a magical secret.
So if you want to check out the most recent run of Recluse books, start with From the Forest and the freshly released Overcaptain when it comes out in late November. And if you want to start at the very beginning, The Magic of Recluse is the ticket.
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WITCH QUEEN OF REDWINTER by Ed McDonald (The Redwinter Chronicles #3) — November 12
Another fantasy series getting a highly anticipated sequel this month is Ed McDonald's Redwinter Chronicles. Beginning with Daughter of Redwinter, this series tells the story of Raine, a woman with a special gift that allows her to speak to the dead. She infiltrates a warrior magician cult known as the Draoihn; they operate independent of kings and nations from their fortress-monastery of Redwinter. Raine has come a long way since then, making new companions and uncovering secrets along the way, but now she's facing a stranger and even deadlier challenge than before.
Witch Queen of Redwinter is the third book in the series and sees Raine and her two closest allies trapped in a magical wasteland as dark forces move the Draoihn in their absence. Their only hope of escape is to track down the "enigmatic and infuriatingly elusive" Queen of Feathers. But will they be able to find her and find a way out of this otherworldly dimension in time to stop the power-hungry Ovitus LacNaithe from using the Draoihn to further their own nefarious agenda?
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SERVANT OF EARTH by Sarah Hawley (The Shards of Magic #1) — November 12
Speaking of enigmatic and elusive magical beings, the next book on our list is one for the fae lovers. Servant of Earth is the first novel in Sarah Hawley's The Shards of Magic series. It follows a young woman named Kenna who's spirited away from her village and trapped in the underground fae court of Mistei. There, she must help her mistress undergo six deadly trials, each geared toward a specific branch of magic: Fire, Earth, Light, Void, Illusion, and Blood. If they succeed, the mistress will become the new ruler of the fae Earth House. If they fail, both Kenna and the one she serves will die.
But is service truly the path to freedom? As Kenna undergoes these trials, she finds herself caught up in a conspiracy to overthrow the faerie king and falling in love with the leader of the rebellion. She'll have to decide whether to risk it all for a chance at happiness and overthrowing a tyrannical regime, all while trying to survive the trials. Throw in a sentient dagger, monsters, and plentiful magic, and Servant of Earth is an easy recommend for readers who love to spend time with the fae.
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THE SHIVER TREE by Holly Searcy — November 12
Since we're talking about faeries, our next book is right in the same sort of wheelhouse — except this time, we've got druids. The Shiver Tree by Holly Searcy is set in the fantasy world of Amarra, which has been kept in balance for millennia by five harmonious Druid Orders: Jade, Ice, Spirit, Sky, and Sun. Except that by the time of The Shiver Tree, that harmony has faded as political schisms have driven apart the various druid clans. Without that harmony, Amarra is failing, with monstrosities as well as blighting of natural resources wreaking havoc.
Kiana Paletine is the daughter of the High Druid of the land, and firmly believes that the only way to save her homeland is to set aside these political rivalries. But as you might expect, everyone's slow to agree to lay down grievances they've nursed for so long. Together with her estranged sister, Kiana follows a series of visions in search of the Shiver Seed, a powerful object which the mysterious Deep Ones are seeking to use for their own nefarious ends, but which could heal Amarra in the hands of the druids. Her journey will take her in search of the long-lost Ice Druids, who may hold the key to finding the Shiver Seed and saving Amarra before it collapses in upon itself.
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THE LAST HOUR BETWEEN WORLDS by Melissa Caruso (The Echo Archives #1) — November 19
She may be best known for her Rook and Ruin books, but this month author Melissa Caruso is kicking off a brand new series with The Last Hour Between Worlds, book one of The Echo Archives. And this one sounds like a lot of fun.
The Last Hour Between Worlds follows star investigator and new mother Kembral Thorne, who has finally managed to steal a few hours away from her child in hopes of enjoying a year-turning party, aka fantasy New Years. She deserves this break! But then party guests start dropping like flies, the entire shindig begins plunging through layers of reality and into the nightmarish realms beneath, and Kembral has no choice but to take up the case. With each layer, things get stranger and stranger, until the laws of reality begin to bend and creatures "with teeth in their eyes" start making gruesome appearances.
In order to survive and save the day, Kembral has to team up with her "awfully compelling nemesis," the famed cat burgler Rika Nonesuch. According to the Goodreads description, that'll lead to sapphic pining as Rika and Kembral are forced to set aside their differences. Even from the back-of-book description alone, this one sounds like it's infused with wit and charm, even as danger mounts and things get truly strange.
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RED SONJA: CONSUMED by Gail Simone — November 19
Are you familiar with Red Sonja, the cult-classic barbarian warrior woman with red hair? Originally brought to life as a Ukranian mercenary by author Robert E. Howard, Marvel comics reimagined Sonja in the early 1970s as a counterpoint to Howard's most famous character, Conan the Barbarian. Since then, Red Sonja has featured in comics, novels, and even her own movie in 1985. In 2013, comic writer Gail Simone revived Red Sonja with a run of stories that explored her past, showing readers how she became the powerful, deadly woman that they had known for decades.
This month is a special one for Red Sonja fans, because now Simone is returning to the character with a novel. Red Sonja: Consumed gives fans a new chapter with the fiery she-devil with a sword, where the veteran warrior is finally forced to return to her homeland after disturbing dreams and rumors of eerie creatures murdering the locals begin haunting her. Red Sonja fears nothing...except for, perhaps, her own painful past.
Getting a novelization for a popular character can be exciting on premise, but Red Sonja: Consumed feels like an extra big deal because of Simone's involvement. It's rare to see a comic author return to a character they reinvigorated and then tackle them from a different angle in novel form. Simone has shown us different sides of Red Sonja before and has proven she can do it well; what new aspects of this iconic character will be revealed in Red Sonja: Consumed?
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THE FATE OF SILENT GODS by Scott Drakeford (Age of Ire #2) — November 19
Another sequel coming our way in November is The Fate of Silent Gods, the second book in Scott Drakeford's Age of Ire series. The first book, Rise of the Mages, introduced readers to the ambitious Emrael Ire and his brother Ban, who joined a prestigious school at the Citadel to learn magical Crafting and military strategy. Following Ban's kidnapping, Emrael accepts disconcerting new allies and begins practicing forbidden magic in order to get his brother back from a cult following the Fallen God of Glory.
Emrael seemingly won his struggle...or did he? The Fate of Silent Gods follows the next chapter for Emrael Ire, as he has to come to terms with the decisions he made in the first book and how they've changed him — for better or worse. This dark god and his cult aren't done with Emrael quite yet, and the fight will extact a heavy toll.
Drakeford is perhaps best known as one of the co-hosts of the Publishing Rodeo podcast. But if you haven't tried his sword-and-sorcery fantasy novels yet, this is a perfect time to dig into them.
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WHEEL OF THE INFINITE: UPDATED AND REVISED EDITION by Martha Wells — November 19
We end the month with a reprint of an older tale from a classic author. Multi award-winning author Martha Wells is primarily known these days for her hit Murderbot novellas and novels, as well as last year's sweeping fantasy book Witch King. But Wells has been publishing professionally since the early 1990s and has a lot of stories that predate her Murderbot fame — some of which haven't been especially easy to find as they've gone in and out of print.
Fortunately for the avid Wells fan, Tor Books has been re-releasing a lot of Wells' earlier novels, giving them beautiful new cover treatments so that they'll look good beside her more recent books on your shelf or ereader. This month, Wells is releasing Wheel of the Infinite, an updated and revised edition of a fantasy novel originally published in 2000.
In Wheel of the Infinite, the titular Wheel is a physical manifestation of the world's stability. Every year, it must be rewoven to ensure peace continues, and every hundred years, the fabric of the world itself has to be rebuilt as well. But a "black storm" is spreading across the Wheel, reappearing every morning no matter how the Wheel's caretakers try to fix it. Maskelle, a murderer and traitor, is called back to help, along with a mysterious swordsman named Rian. And unless they are able to discover what's causing the imbalance, the world as they know it may soon end.
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That concludes our round-up of new fantasy and sci-fi releases for November 2024! Lots to read — good thing holiday times are fast approaching, meaning you'll hopefully have more time to read and maybe even need to find some books for loved ones. What stories from this list are you adding to your TBR or gift list? Let us know in the comments, and happy reading!
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