This is the top 5 of new fantasy novels being released in September 2016. The number one spot is reserved for supernatural fiction: a ghost story about a haunted house. Next up is a fantasy novel with some police and investigation accents about reincarnation (sounds complicated and oh, so good!). Then there’s the first part in an epic fantasy series about a world where queens in training have to stop nature’s spirits plans to destroy the world. The second last new novel is a prequel in a series about a young girl going up against omnipotent Kings (reminds me of Brandon Sanderson‘s Mistborn or Trudi Canavan‘s Black Magician). And finally there’s the one book on this list that stumps me a little: it’s a somewhat psychological fantasy novel where the female character is sent on a quest but she doesn’t know by who, why or even who she is. I have no idea if I would like or dislike it and in reading some of the reviews, I get the feeling that most readers didn’t really know what to make of it and that it was a little hard of getting into the story when the main character (through whose eyes you experience the story) doesn’t know much.
- The Family Plot by Cherie Priest
Publication date: September 20th 2016
Chuck Dutton, an expert in stripping historic properties and reselling their bones, is thrilled when Augusta Withrow appears in his office offering salvage rights to her entire property. He assigns his daughter Dahlia to personally oversee the project. Soon, Dahlia begins to realize that she and her crew are not alone, and they’re not welcome at the Withrow estate. There’s nowhere to go and no one Dahlia can call for help, even if anyone would believe that she and her crew are being stalked by a murderous phantom. Something at the Withrow mansion is angry and lost, and this is its last chance to raise hell before the house is gone forever. And it seems to be seeking permanent company. The Family Plot is a haunted house story for the ages-atmospheric, scary, and strange, with a modern gothic sensibility to keep it fresh and interesting-from Cherie Priest, a modern master of supernatural fiction. - Deja Who by MaryJanice Davidson (Insighter #1)
Publication date: September 6th 2016
Leah Nazir is an Insighter. Reincarnation is her business. Leah’s past is nothing short of tragedy: she’s been murdered, a lot. Leah wants to know who’s been following her through time, and who’s been stalking her in the present… P.I. Archer Drake, hired by Leah’s mother, finds himself infatuated with her. Before long, he’s even agreeing to help find the person who wants her dead. Now going full-on “rewind,” Leah hopes it can stave off the inevitable. After all, she’s grown fond of this life – and even fonder of nerdy Archer. But changing her pattern means finding out who her killer is today. And as Leah fears, that could be anyone she has come to know and trust. - The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst (The Queens of Renthia #1)
Publication date: September 20th 2016
An idealistic young student and a banished warrior become allies in a battle to save their realm in this first book of a mesmerising epic fantasy series, filled with political intrigue, violent magic, malevolent spirits, and thrilling adventure. The the spirits that reside within this land want to rid it of all humans. One woman stands between these malevolent spirits and the end of humankind: the queen. With the position so precarious, young women are chosen to train as heirs. Daleina, a seemingly quiet academy student, and Ven, a disgraced champion fighting against the growing number of spirit attacks, join forces and embark on a treacherous quest to find the source of the spirits’ restlessness. - Of Sand and Malice Made by Bradley P. Beaulieu (The Song of the Shattered Sands #0.5)
Publication date: September 6th 2016
Çeda, the heroine of the widely anticipated, just-released novel Twelve Kings in Sharakhai, is the youngest pit fighter in the history of the great desert city of Sharakhai. In this prequel, she has already made her name in the arena as the fearsome, undefeated White Wolf; none but her closest friends and allies know her true identity. But this all changes when she crosses the path of Rümayesh, an ehrekh, a sadistic creature forged long ago by the god of chaos. The ehrekh are usually desert dwellers, but this one lurks in the dark corners of Sharakhai, toying with and preying on humans. As Rümayesh works to unmask the White Wolf and claim Çeda for her own, Çeda’s struggle becomes a battle for her very soul. - Cold-Forged Flame by Marie Brennan (Ree Varekai #1)
Publication date: September 13th 2016
At the beginning – no, at the end – she appears, full of fury and bound by chains of prophecy. Setting off on an unexplained quest from which she is compelled to complete, and facing unnatural challenges in a land that doesn’t seem to exist, she will discover the secrets of herself, or die trying. But along the way, the obstacles will grow to a seemingly insurmountable point, and the final choice will be the biggest sacrifice yet. This is the story of a woman’s struggle against her very existence, an epic tale of the adventure and emotional upheaval on the way to face an ancient enigmatic foe. This could only spun from the imagination of Marie Brennan, award-winning author and beloved fantasist, beginning a new series about the consequences of war—and of fate.
Which one will I be reading? Definitely number 2! For the title alone, I would read this book – I love wordplay. On top of that, the description sounds very interesting too (a little complicated maybe, but interesting). It’s on my to-read list and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy! How about you guys?
Other new releases of September 2016 can be found by genre right here on Goodreads.
Happy reading,
Loes M.