20 fantasy and science fiction books to read in February 2024

LORE OF THE WILDS by Analeigh Sbrana — February 27

Lore of the Wilds is Analeigh Sbrana's debut romantasy novel. When Lore's village is threatened by the Fae who hold it in their thrall, she makes a bargain to enter a very ancient, very dangerous library on their behalf. But she has ulterior motives, and the two Fae who she ends up having to team up with each prove to be a bit too attractive to ignore. Love triangle, check. Love triangle with a BIPOC main cast and Fae magic? Even better.

A library with a deadly enchantment. 

A Fae lord who wants in.

A human woman willing to risk it all for a taste of power.

In a land ruled by ruthless Fae, twenty-one-year-old Lore Alemeyu’s village is trapped in a forested prison. Lore knows that any escape attempt is futile—her scars are a testament to her past failures. But when her village is threatened, Lore makes a desperate deal with a Fae lord. She will leave her home to catalog/organize an enchanted library that hasn’t been touched in a thousand years. No Fae may enter the library, but there is a chance a human might be able to breach the cursed doors.

She convinces him that she will risk her life for wealth, but really she’s after the one thing the Fae covet above all: magic of her own.

As Lore navigates the hostile world outside, she’s forced to rely on two Fae males to survive. Two very different, very dangerous, very attractive Fae males. When undeniable chemistry ignites, she’s not just in danger of losing her life, but her heart to the very creatures she can never trust.

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FATHOMFOLK by Eliza Chan (Drowned World #1) — February 27

We end the month with Fathomfolk, Eliza Chan's debut fantasy novel. Fathomfolk takes place in the partially submerged city of Tiankawi, a crossroads where humans the fathomfolk who live in the waters below can come together. Inspired by East Asian mythology and ocean folk tales, Fathomfolk is a story of revolution and social unrest, for Tiankawi is far from the beacon of society it's cracked up to be. There are class divides between humans and the sirens and kelpies who live deeper in the city, and half-sire Mira is caught right in the middle of the brewing conflict.

Welcome to Tiankawi - shining pearl of human civilization and a safe haven for those fleeing civil unrest. Or at least, that's how it first appears. But in the semi-flooded city, humans are, quite literally, on top: peering down from shining towers and aerial walkways on the fathomfolk - sirens, seawitches, kelpies and kappas - who live in the polluted waters below.

For half-siren Mira, promotion to captain of the border guard means an opportunity to help her downtrodden people. But if earning the trust and respect of her human colleagues wasn't hard enough, everything Mira has worked towards is put in jeopardy when Nami, a know-it-all water dragon and fathomfolk princess - is exiled to the city, under Mira’s watch. When extremists sabotage a city festival, violence erupts, as does the clampdown on fathomfolk rights. Both Nami and Mira must decide if the cost of change is worth paying, or if Tiankawi should be left to drown.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

And so ends another monthly round-up of science fiction and fantasy books! What will you be reading this month?

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