20 fantasy and science fiction books to read in February 2024
By Daniel Roman
TO CAGE A GOD by Elizabeth May (These Monstrous Gods #1) — February 20
Elizabeth May is a veteran bestselling fantasy and science fiction author known for series like Seven Devils, Seven Mercies, and the Falconer Trilogy, as well as historical romances which she writes under the pen name Katrina Kendrick. When May releases a new book, it's usually a pretty good bet that it's going to be a solid read.
To Cage A God is the start of a brand new duology which draws inspiration from Imperial Russia. If you're still heartbroken about the cancelation of Netflix's Shadow and Bone, this book might be the perfect balm.
To cage a god is divine.
To be divine is to rule.
To rule is to destroy.
Using ancient secrets, Galina and Sera’s mother grafted gods into their bones. Bound to brutal deities and granted forbidden power no commoner has held in a millennia, the sisters have grown up to become living weapons. Raised to overthrow an empire―no matter the cost.
With their mother gone and their country on the brink of war, it falls to the sisters to take the helm of the rebellion and end the cruel reign of a royal family possessed by destructive gods. Because when the ruling alurea invade, they conquer with fire and blood. And when they clash, common folk burn.
While Sera reunites with her estranged lover turned violent rebel leader, Galina infiltrates the palace. In this world of deception and danger, her only refuge is an isolated princess, whose whip-smart tongue and sharp gaze threaten to uncover Galina’s secret. Torn between desire and duty, Galina must make a choice: work together to expose the lies of the empire―or bring it all down.
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THE BOOK OF ILE-RIEN by Martha Wells — February 27
Between The Murderbot Diaries, standalone books like Witch King, and re-releases of her older works, it feels like Martha Wells is everywhere right now. And hey, I'm not complaining — Wells is a master at her craft, so any month with a new release from her is a good month in my book.
In February, Wells is releasing The Book of Ile-Rien. This is an omnibus which collects Wells' books The Element of Fire and The Death of the Necromancer together for the first time. These books were originally published back in the 1990s and have become a little hard to find physical copies of...until now!
The Element of Fire
The kingdom of Ile-Rien lies in peril, menaced by sorcerous threats and devious intrigue, when Kade, bastard sister of King Roland, appears unexpectedly at court. The illegitimate daughter of the old king and the Queen of Air and Darkness herself, Kade's true desires are cloaked in mystery.
It falls to Thomas Boniface, Captain of the Queen's Guard, to keep the kingdom from harm. But is one man's steel enough to counter all the magic of fayre?
The Death of the Necromancer
Nicholas Valiarde is a passionate, embittered nobleman and the greatest thief in all of Ile-Rien. On the gaslit streets of the city, Nicholas assumes the guise of a master criminal, stealing jewels from wealthy nobles to finance his quest for a long-pursued vengeance.
But Nicholas's murderous mission is being interrupted by a series of eerie, unexplainable, and fatal events. A dark magic opposes him, and traces of a necromantic power that hasn't been used for centuries abound. Nicholas and his compatriots find themselves battling an ancient evil.
And if they lose? Death would be preferable to the fate that awaits them....