11 great fantasy & science fiction books to read that came out in April 2022

The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne

The Shadow of the Gods was the start of The Faithful and the Fallen author John Gwynne’s new Norse-inspired fantasy trilogy, and it was epic. That book came out in 2021, and already Gwynne has followed it up with a sequel, The Hunger of the Gods. We can’t say too much here because this is the second book in the trilogy, and by Odin we would not want to spoil the insane cliffhanger ending of the first book.

Suffice it to say, Gwynne’s series is fantasy fiction polished to a mirror sheen, and while many book series draw inspiration from Norse myth, The Bloodsworn trilogy is a step above in terms of how it incorporates the mythology, vocabulary, creatures, and culture of Viking raiders and Norse retellings into the narrative. If words like Ragnarok and shield-wall make you weak in the knees, you have just discovered your new favorite series.

Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse

Rebecca Roanhorse has written in several different genres over the years including middle-grade fantasy and urban fantasy, but her latest novels are taking the adult epic fantasy genre and putting a really fresh spin on it. Between Earth and Sky is a series set in a fantasy world inspired by the Pre-Columbian empires of North America, like the Maya and Aztec. The first book, Black Sun, was nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Novel last year and gained lots of praise for Roanhorse’s imaginative worldbuilding, richly realized mythology, and compelling characters.

Black Sun saw blind priest Serapio and the Teek sailor Xiala arrive at the holy city of Tova in time to witness a rare solar eclipse. The celestial event coincided with a bloody prophecy, and after the dust settled the novel ended with a pretty serious cliffhanger.

Now, Roanhorse is back with the sequel Fevered Star. What’s next for Xiala and company in this world filled with complex politics, enormous animal avatars, and hidden magic?