15 new fantasy and science fiction books to read in January 2024
By Daniel Roman
UNBOUND by Christy Healy—January 16
Next up we step into the realm of fairtytale retellings. Unbound by Christy Healy is a genderbent reimagining of Beauty and the Beast, steeped in Irish mythology and folklore. It's being pitched as a good fit for fans of authors like Hannah Whitten (For the Wolf) and Rebecca Ross (A River Enchanted), and from the description I can totally see that. It sounds enchanting, complex, and romantic. Plus that cover art.
Rozlyn Ó Conchúir is used to waiting—waiting for the king, her father, to relent and allow her to leave the solitude of her tower; waiting for the dreaded and mysterious Beast of Connacht to at last be defeated; waiting for the arrival of the man destined to win her heart and break the terrible curse placed on her and her land. So when she meets Jamie—a charming and compelling suitor—she allows herself to hope that her days of solitude and patience are over at long last.
But as she finds her trust betrayed—and newer, more sinister threats arising—Rozlyn learns that some curses are better left unbroken …
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A DROP OF VENOM by Sajni Patel—January 16
If you're into mythology, there's a decent chance you might be indulging in the brand new Percy Jackson and the Olympians show that's airing right now on Disney+. One of the fascinating things that show is doing is fleshing out some aspects of the book that the author, Rick Riordan, wished could be updated, such as the tragic tale of Medusa.
It's fitting then that this month we'll see the release of A Drop of Venom by Sajni Patel, which is a reimagining of Medusa's story that draws on Indian myth instead of Greek. This book is coming out under the Rick Riordan Presents line, which are books that Riordan backs from other authors that explore mythologies from different cultures. Essentially, if you like books like Percy Jackson or Tristan Strong or any of the other mythological fantasy books that are accessible to kids as well as adults, you want A Drop of Venom on your radar.
All monsters and heroes have beginnings. This is mine.
Sixteen-year-old Manisha is no stranger to monsters—she’s been running from them for years, from beasts who roam the jungle to the King’s army, who forced her people, the naga, to scatter to the ends of the earth. You might think that the kingdom’s famed holy temples atop the floating mountains, where Manisha is now a priestess, would be safe—but you would be wrong.
Seventeen-year-old Pratyush is a famed slayer of monsters, one of the King’s most prized warriors and a frequent visitor to the floating temples. For every monster the slayer kills, years are added to his life. You might think such a powerful warrior could do whatever he wants, but true power lies with the King. Tired after years of fighting, Pratyush wants nothing more than a peaceful, respectable life.
When Pratyush and Manisha meet, each sees in the other the possibility to chart a new path. Unfortunately, the kingdom’s powerful have other plans. A temple visitor sexually assaults Manisha and pushes her off the mountain into a pit of vipers. A month later, the King sends Pratyush off to kill one last monster (a powerful nagin who has been turning men to stone) before he’ll consider granting the slayer his freedom.
Except Manisha doesn’t die, despite the hundreds of snake bites covering her body and the venom running through her veins. She rises from the pit more powerful than ever before, with heightened senses, armor-like skin, and blood that can turn people to stone. And Pratyush doesn’t know it, but the “monster” he’s been sent to kill is none other than the girl he wants to marry.
Alternating between Manisha’s and Pratyush’s perspectives, Sajni Patel weaves together lush language, high stakes, and page-turning suspense, demanding an answer to the question “What does it truly mean to be a monster?”