18 fantasy and science fiction books to read in November 2023

Like Thunder by Nnedi Okorafor (The Desert Magician’s Duology #2) — November 28

A few months back, a beautiful new edition of award-winning author Nnedi Okorafor’s novel Shadow Speaker hit shelves, which was pretty damn exciting since it had been out of print for some time. Now, Okorafor is back with a brand new sequel: Like Thunder.

Okorafor is best known for her Africanfuturism and Africanjujuism works such as the Binti trilogy and Who Fears Death, an adaptation of which is currently in development at HBO with A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin attached as a producer. Her latest work, Like Thunder, is set in a near-future Nigeria three years after the events of Shadow Speaker. Okorafor can always be counted upon for a compelling read, and we’re more than a little curious to see what Dikéogu Obidimkpa and Ejii Ubaid have been up to since their epic quest in Shadow Speaker.

Niger, West Africa, 2077

Welcome back. This second volume is a breathtaking story that sweeps across the sands of the Sahara, flies up to the peaks of the Aïr Mountains, cartwheels into a wild megacity—you get the idea.

I am the Desert Magician; I bring water where there is none.

This book begins with Dikéogu Obidimkpa slowly losing his mind. Yes, that boy who can bring rain just by thinking about it is having some…issues. Years ago, Dikéogu went on an epic journey to save Earth with the shadow speaker girl, Ejii Ubaid, who became his best friend. When it was all over, they went their separate ways, but now he’s learned their quest never really ended at all.

So Dikéogu, more powerful than ever, reunites with Ejii. He records this story as an audiofile, hoping it will help him keep his sanity or at least give him something to leave behind. Smart kid, but it won’t work—or will it?

I can tell you this: it won’t be like before. Our rainmaker and shadow speaker have changed. And after this, nothing will ever be the same again.

As they say, ‘Onye amaro ebe nmili si bido mabaya ama ama onye nyelu ya akwa oji welu ficha aru.’

Or, ‘If you do not remember where the rain started to beat you, you will not remember who gave you the towel with which to dry your body.’

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THE WITCHWOOD KNOT by Olivia Atwater (Victorian Faerie Tales #1) — November 28

We end with a new book from Regency Faerie Tales author Olivia Atwater. The Witchwood Knot is set in the same world as Atwater’s last series, which began with Half a Soul, and looks to have the same sort of charm, whimsy and wit. It has faeries, it has Victorian sensibilities and it has a heist which forces a governess to become a would-be thief (but the good kind, who is stealing a child back from the faeries). The Witchwood Knot sounds like a very fun read with some cozy vibes to ring in the end of autumn.

The faeries of Witchwood Manor have stolen its young lord. His governess intends to steal him back.

Victorian governess Winifred Hall knows a con when she sees one. When her bratty young charge transforms overnight into a perfectly behaved block of wood, she soon realises that the real boy has been abducted by the Fair Folk. Unfortunately, the lord of Witchwood Manor is the only man in England who doesn’t believe in faeries—which leaves Winnie in the unenviable position of rescuing the young lord-to-be all by herself.

Witchwood Manor is bigger than its inhabitants realise, however, and full of otherworldly dangers. As Winnie delves deeper into the other side of the house, she enlists the aid of its dark and dubious faerie butler, Mr Quincy, who hides several awful secrets behind his charming smile. Winnie hopes to make her way to the centre of the Witchwood Knot through wit and cleverness… but when all of her usual tricks fail, who will she dare to trust?

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And so concludes our gargantuan list of new science fiction and fantasy book releases for November! What will you be reading?

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