15 new fantasy and science fiction books to read in January 2024
By Daniel Roman
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A new year has dawned, yet your dusty old TBR pile from 2023 remains. Have you set a new reading goal on Goodreads? Cleaned off your shelves? Charged your e-reader?
Good, because it's 2024, and there are books coming out. This is going to be another great year for fantasy and science fiction novels, with some huge releases and exciting debuts peppered throughout. As we did last year, we'll be compiling round-ups of all the latest fantasy and sci-fi books each month so that you don't miss any of the hottest new releases. Starting now!
January holds a wealth of books, from epic clashes between gods and assassins to romantasy, myth and fairytale retellings, world-hopping sci-fi and more. Let's find you your next read!
THAT TIME I GOT DRUNK AND SAVED A DEMON by Kimberly Lemming (Mead Mishaps #1)—January 2
January is kicking off in cozy fashion with That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming. The title says it all here. This is a romantasy rom-com which sees a spice trader named Cinammon accidentally save a demon, subsequently get caught up in their quest, and maybe (probably) have some romantic hijinks along the way. If you enjoyed lighter fantasy reads like Legends & Lattes, this one may be up your alley.
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon was originally a self-published book that has since been picked up by Orbit, and its two sequels, That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf and That Time I got Drunk and Saved a Human are both finished already. They'll be releasing in February and March, respectively, so if you enjoy reading That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon you won't have to wait long for more.
Spice trader Cinnamon’s quiet life is turned upside down when she ends up on a quest with a fiery demon, in this irreverently quirky rom-com fantasy that is sweet, steamy, and funny as hell.
All she wanted to do was live her life in peace—maybe get a cat, expand the family spice farm. Really, anything that didn’t involve going on an adventure where an orc might rip her face off. But they say the goddess has favorites, and if so, Cin is clearly not one of them.
After Cin saves the demon Fallon in a wine-drunk stupor, Fallon reveals that all he really wants to do is kill an evil witch enslaving his people. And who can blame him? But now he’s dragging Cinnamon along for the ride whether she likes it or not. On the bright side, at least he keeps burning off his shirt.…
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THE SLAIN DIVINE by David Dalglish (Vagrant Gods #3)—January 9
On the epic fantasy front, one of the first big releases of the year is The Slain Divine, the third and final book in David Dalglish's Vagrant Gods trilogy. Prince Cyrus has come a long way since he was forced into hiding after the Everlorn Empire killed his peoples' gods and took over the island of Thanet. There have been clashes between godlike beings, daring assassinations, betrayals, and more political upheaval than you can shake a dagger at.
The second book in the series, The Sapphire Altar, featured some major twists and turns that laid the groundwork for an exciting finale. Personally, this is one I'll be reading right at the top of the month because I need to know how it all ends.
The Everlorn Empire's grip on Thanet is tighter than ever. The God-Incarnate himself has arrived on its shores to crush the struggling rebellion and carry out his final, sinister plan: he will sacrifice the entire island in order to rise, reincarnated from its ashes.
The rebellion is struggling to separate allies from enemies, and to figure out a way to stop the slow destruction of everything and everyone they care for. Meanwhile, Cyrus is disappearing deeper beneath the vicious mask of the "Vagrant". Under the mantel of the legendary assassin, he may be strong enough to take down the Empire, but at what cost?