15 new Fantasy and Science Fiction books to read in 2021

The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng by K.S. Villoso (May 4)

The Wolf of Oren Yaro and The Ikessar Falcon were some of the best new adult fantasy to come out last year (fight me). K.S. Villoso‘s tale of treachery, political intrigue, and brutal action follows Queen Talyien of the Oren-Yaro, a warlord with a reputation for cutting off heads and generally taking no BS.

At the start of Wolf, Talyien is invited on a voyage to go meet her estranged husband, who has just contacted her for the first time in five years. Since this is epic fantasy in the bloody, brutal vein of authors like Joe Abercrombie and Evan Winter, however, things quickly go sideways. Talyien soon finds herself on her own in a strange foreign empire where her status as the queen of a smaller nation means practically nothing and those who wish her harm wait in every alley.

Talyien is a warrior queen with a reputation for violence, yet Villoso brings such nuance to the character that it’s obvious right from the very first page that nothing is quite what it seems. Villoso’s world is infused with Filipino elements, adding a unique and vividly realized feel to this fantasy world that sets it apart from many other books in the genre.

The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng is the third and final book in the Chronicles of the Bitch Queen trilogy.  Talyien has faced many foes already, but now it seems she’ll be facing her most challenging yet: a return to her homeland.

"Queen Talyien is finally home, but dangers she never imagined await her in the shadowed halls of her father’s castle. War is on the horizon. Her son has been stolen from her, her warlords despise her, and across the sea, a cursed prince threatens her nation with invasion in order to win her hand. Worse yet, her father’s ancient secrets are dangerous enough to bring Jin Sayeng to ruin. Dark magic tears rifts in the sky, preparing to rain down madness, chaos, and the possibility of setting her nation aflame. Bearing the brunt of the past and uncertain about her future, Talyien will need to decide between fleeing her shadows or embracing them before the whole world becomes an inferno."

The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng comes out May 4 from Orbit Books.