Order [book in series=yearoffirstbook.book# (eg 2014.01), stand-alone or one-author collection=3333.pubyear, multi-author anthology=5555.pubyear, SFM/MM=5000, interview=1111]: 2020.01

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Legendborn: There’s much to like in this debut

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn Tracy Deonn’s Legendborn (2020), the first book in her LEGENDBORN CYCLE, wasn’t on my radar until I saw it on the Locus Awards finalists list for Best Young Adult novel. I grabbed the audiobook and one of the YAs that lives in my house (Tali, my 18-year-old daughter) and we listened […]

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The Extraordinaries: Superheroes and extraordinary friendships

The Extraordinaries by TJ Klume TJ Klune’s 2020 novel The Extraordinaries is only the second-best YA/superhero/coming of age/Spiderman movie parody/neurodivergent/ queer rom-com I’ve read this year. I’ll explain at the end of the review why it only came in second. Nicholas Bell is sixteen, gay and out to his father, friends and school. Nick lives […]

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The Bone Shard Daughter: A fast-paced, enticing adventure

Reposting to include Bill’s new review. The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart The Bone Shard Daughter (2020) by Andrea Stewart is a fast-paced, enticing read, with an attractive world and a magical system that grabs the imagination with both hands and doesn’t let it go. Stewart’s debut is the first book of a series, […]

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Black Sun: A strong start to a new series

Reposting to include Jana’s new review. Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse Rebecca Roanhorse’s Black Sun (2020) introduces a new series set in an ancient Mesoamerica that is a mix of partly-familiar cultures and original fantasy elements, creating a heady brew that rolls along smoothly even as it moves back and forth in time and amongst […]

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Unconquerable Sun: Needs more context

Unconquerable Sun by Kate Elliott Unconquerable Sun (2020) is the latest YA novel from Kate Elliott, the first novel in THE SUN CHRONICLES, and is nominated for a 2021 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction novel. The conceit is that Elliott has gender-flipped the historical narrative of Alexander the Great, adding a space opera setting […]

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Raybearer: Deserves its accolades

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko Tarisai, who has the magical gift of being able to perceive the memories of objects and people, has always lived a sheltered life in her mother’s large house. She rarely sees her mysterious mother and is taken care of by unfriendly servants and tutors who are rigorously educating her for some […]

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A Deadly Education: Fantastic originality

Reposting to include John’s new review. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik I honestly had a very hard time with the beginning of Naomi Novik’s newest novel, A Deadly Education (2020). But based on my experience with her prior work, I kept going and though I don’t think this novel nears the strength of ones […]

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Finna: It’s a LitenVärld after all

Finna by Nino Cipri If you’ve ever gotten frustrated wandering through the endless maze of rooms that is IKEA, it’s not hard to imagine that there are hidden passages that lead, not to a secret shortcut to an exit, but to another world entirely. Nino Cipri’s Nebula Award-nominated novella Finna (2020) takes that concept and […]

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Over the Woodward Wall: Follow the improbable brick road

Over the Woodward Wall by A. Deborah Baker Over the Woodward Wall (2020) began its life as an imagined book, existing merely as a set of excerpts “quoted” at the end of certain chapters in Seanan McGuire’s Middlegame. But these excerpts were compelling enough that McGuire decided to use them as the building blocks for […]

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Bloom: A scary plant pandemic that now seems possible

Reposting to include Bill’s new review. Bloom by Kenneth Oppel Three kids battle an invasive plant in Kenneth Oppel’s latest middle grade fantasy. Bloom (2020) is mysterious and thrilling all the way through. Our heroes are: Anaya, who’s allergic to almost everything. Petra, who’s allergic to water. She used to be Anaya’s best friend until […]

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Ink & Sigil: Starts a fun new IDC spin-off series

Ink & Sigil by Kevin Hearne Fans of Kevin Hearne’s popular IRON DRUID CHRONICLES will be thrilled to learn that Hearne has a new spin-off series: INK & SIGIL. The first novel, Ink & Sigil (2020), introduces Al MacBharrais, an older widowed gentleman who has a unique talent. He uses special inks to create sigils […]

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Deal With the Devil: Didn’t distinguish itself enough

Deal With the Devil by Kit Rocha If I’m told that a new series is titled MERCENARY LIBRARIANS, that sets up certain expectations in my mind — namely, that librarian-ing is going to feature prominently in the introductory novel, or at least be a driving force behind the primary plot. And while the treasure-trove of […]

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The Year of the Witching: A creepy religious dystopia

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson The Year of the Witching (2020) is the story of a young woman, Immanuelle, growing up in the religious dystopia of Bethel. (It’s never stated, but I interpreted the setting as a post-apocalyptic America.) The dominant religion, the faith of the Father, contains some elements of Christianity, […]

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Woven in Moonlight: A tapestry with some loose threads

Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez Woven in Moonlight (2020) is a lushly imagined YA fantasy based on Bolivian history and culture, and featuring a creative form of magic based on weaving. The plot is exciting, filled with twists and turns and betrayals. For me, though, I also found that it had some elements that […]

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The Book of Koli: Has pretty much everything I want

The Book of Koli by M.R. Carey Koli lives in a far-future post-apocalyptic England. He has never been beyond the walls of Mythen Rood, his tiny village, because outside are wild animals, vicious plants, and who knows what other dangers. The leaders of Mythen Rood are the Ramparts, a small group of people who have […]

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