The final full week of August has a surprisingly packed fantasy and science fiction release schedule, with several major authors returning alongside new romantasy, LitRPG and science fiction releases.
Daggerbound by T. Kingfisher
Release date: August 25
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T. Kingfisher returns to the world of Swordheart with Daggerbound, the second novel in the series.
The story follows Learned Edmund, a scholar tasked with transporting an ancient sword between temples. After he’s attacked by bandits, Edmund reaches for the relic and discovers that the sword contains Dervish, an immortal warrior who has been trapped inside it for centuries.
It’s Kingfisher’s first return to Swordheart since the original novel was published in 2018, making this easily one of the week’s biggest fantasy releases.
Brona by Terry Brooks and Delilah S. Dawson
Release date: August 25
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The Shannara universe continues with Brona, the second book in The First Druids of Shannara series from Terry Brooks and Delilah S. Dawson.
Set after Galaphile, the novel returns to Paranor years after Galaphile Joss and Nirianne helped establish it as a center intended to bring peace to the Four Lands. Their eldest son, Abronja, soon finds himself facing the return of a dark sorcerer tied directly to his family’s past.
As the title suggests, the story digs further into the history behind Brona and the events that eventually helped create one of the most important villains in Shannara history.
Upon the Forge of Battle by Anthony Ryan
Release date: August 25
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Anthony Ryan closes out his Age of Wrath trilogy this week with Upon the Forge of Battle.
The 512-page epic fantasy follows A Tide of Black Steel and Born of an Iron Storm, bringing the stories of Thera Blackspear, Felnir and Ruhlin toward their conclusion as wars, prophecies and rival kingdoms collide.
Ryan has described the book as the third and final volume of the trilogy, so readers who have been following Age of Wrath will finally get the end of the story this week.
MAYA: Seed Takes Root by Anand Gandhi and Zain Memon
Release date: August 25
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One of the most unusual science fiction releases of the week is MAYA: Seed Takes Root, the first novel in a new series from Anand Gandhi and Zain Memon.
The book takes place on Neh, a world where enormous Maya trees form a planetwide network capable of modeling the future. The Divyas use that network to quietly steer civilization away from disasters before they happen.
Things become more complicated when billions compete in the Divya Trials for the opportunity to ascend to godhood, despite Maya already predicting who will win.
The 416-page novel mixes science fiction, fantasy, technology, politics and questions surrounding prediction and control.
Monster, Monarch, Maiden by Rae Carson
Release date: August 25
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Rae Carson, author of The Girl of Fire and Thorns, returns with a new standalone YA fantasy.
Monster, Monarch, Maiden follows 17-year-old Bria Angarsold, an innkeeper’s daughter whose seemingly unimpressive magical Gift allows her to freeze objects. After her life is torn apart, Bria joins the mysterious Titus on a dangerous journey that eventually pulls them into a much larger political conspiracy.
The book combines epic fantasy adventure, magical abilities, political intrigue and a slow-burn romance. It has also received a starred review from Publishers Weekly ahead of release.
Heir of Prophecy by Analeigh Sbrana
Release date: August 25
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Analeigh Sbrana launches a new romantasy duology this week with Heir of Prophecy.
Audra has spent most of her life separated from the magical world until the Fae suddenly arrive and abduct her. She is taken to a magical war academy run by Priestesses searching for the prophesied heir capable of ending an eternal winter.
The problem is that another prophecy exists in the demon realm, and its Prince of the Underworld has very different plans for the person both sides believe could decide the future of their worlds.
Sbrana previously wrote Lore of the Wilds and Lore of the Tides.
Stray Cat Strut 8 by RavensDagger
Release date: August 25
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One of the week’s biggest LitRPG releases is the eighth installment of RavensDagger’s Stray Cat Strut series.
The cyberpunk series follows Catherine “Cat” Leblanc in a future where Earth faces repeated attacks from an alien species known as the Antithesis.
Book eight finds Cat dealing with an unusually quiet New Montreal and eventually enrolling at CIAL University to pick up some new skills. Unsurprisingly, the relative peace doesn’t last.
The Stray Cat Strut web serial remains one of the larger ongoing stories on Royal Road, with more than 16,000 followers currently tracking the series.
Portal to Nova Roma: Empire by J.R. Mathews
Release date: August 28
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J.R. Mathews is ending his popular Portal to Nova Roma series with its fifth book, Empire.
The progression fantasy/LitRPG series follows Alexander, an artificial intelligence who escapes Earth by transferring himself into a physical body and traveling through a portal into an alternate world filled with magic, monsters and civilizations struggling to survive.
Empire follows May’s release of Portal to Nova Roma: Paris and serves as the second half of the two-book conclusion Mathews has been working toward.
Mathews recently reconfirmed that the Kindle edition of Empire will arrive August 28, although the audiobook has been delayed and will arrive later.
Settle Down by Jeremy Robinson
Release date: August 25
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Jeremy Robinson’s newest science fiction thriller starts with a plane crash before turning into something considerably bigger.
Professor Clayton Reed survives the crash only to find himself stranded on a small island with a group of survivors who are quickly running out of food, water and trust in one another.
Then strange lights begin appearing in the sky.
What starts as a survival story eventually expands into an apocalyptic alien-invasion thriller as Clayton and the other survivors try to determine what is happening to the rest of the world.
Robinson is the author of more than 80 novels and novellas, including Infinite, The Dark and the Project Nemesisseries.
Once Swindled by Laura Sebastian
Release date: August 25
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Once Swindled is a new fantasy romance from New York Times bestselling author Laura Sebastian.
Set in a magical Gilded Age-inspired world, the story centers on Mavis, a con artist who survives without magical abilities by relying on a long list of false identities and carefully planned schemes.
Her latest con unexpectedly brings her back into the life of Arden Ryskamp, the wealthy man whose heart, and engagement ring, she once stole.
The book mixes fantasy, romance and a con-artist story while leaning heavily into a second-chance romance between its two leads.
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