Last year I put together a TBR list of science fiction and fantasy books I was particularly looking forward to reading in 2022, and yep…I thought I’d do the same this year! It’s always fun to look ahead and think about what looks particularly exciting, and it’s useful to have a list like this to refer back to as the year progresses. From last year’s list, only nine of the ten books have actually been published yet, so I’ve cheated a bit and included the unpublished one from 2022 on this list too. Of those nine though, I did read seven (and a half)…which is pretty good going I think, and I’d say that they mostly (if not entirely) lived up to expectations.
I’ve only included one Warhammer book this time, because to be absolutely honest Black Library hasn’t done a very good job (as usual) of announcing upcoming releases (although Andy Clark’s Bad Loon Rising – amazing title – was very close to making it onto the list). As you can see though, there are more than enough publishers putting out great-sounding books that are well worth looking forward to! For each book I’ve included the official synopsis as well as a few of my own thoughts on why I’m looking forward to it.
One last note: I’ve listed these books by their month of expected publication, based on UK release dates. These dates may of course change, and they may differ outside of the UK.
Dragonfire by James Swallow
January
A heart-stopping military thriller from Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell – betrayed, hunted and disavowed, Sam Fisher’s toughest mission has just begun
Inside North Korea, veteran Fourth Echelon agent Sam Fisher finds himself on the run when a top-secret covert mission goes fatally wrong. Betrayed by his allies, hunted by his adversaries, and disavowed by his own agency, Sam is stranded deep inside hostile territory – and his only chance of survival is to uncover a murderous plot that reaches into the heart of the hermit state, and beyond. Meanwhile, Fisher’s estranged daughter Sarah risks everything to assemble an off-the-books effort to find her missing father before his luck runs out – but the conspiracy that framed Sam goes deeper than either of them realize…
I read Swallow’s Firewall – his first Tom Clancy’s Shadow Cell novel – in November and was just blown away by how much fun it was (here’s my review). I shouldn’t have been surprised though, considering how much I loved his Marc Dane thrillers and how consistently good novels from Aconyte Books tend to be. Firewall has since been adapted into an eight-part BBC full-cast audio drama which I must listen to, but I enjoyed the novel so much that I’m dying to jump straight into the next book – and from the synopsis it sounds like another thrilling, action-packed adventure. I have a digital review copy of this already, so it’s just a case of finding the time to make a start!
The End and the Death Volume 1 by Dan Abnett
February
There is no way out.
The walls have fallen, the gates are breached, and the defenders are slain. It is the end and the death. After seven brutal years of civil war, the Warmaster stands on the verge of victory. Horus Lupercal, once beloved son, has come to murder his father. The Emperor, a shining beacon of hope to many, an unscrupulous tyrant to others, must die. The lives of uncountable numbers have been extinguished and even primarchs, once thought immortal, have been laid low. The Emperor’s dream lies in tatters, but there remains a sliver of hope. Now, at the final hour of the final day, the Emperor rises. With him come his Angel, his Praetorian, and his Captain, all determined to enact terrible vengeance. Yet the hope is slim, for the Warmaster sees all and knows all, and the ultimate victory of Chaos is at hand.
There is no way out.
I almost didn’t put this on the list, because to be absolutely honest I wish the final Siege of Terra book was actually going to be just one book, and not the two (or potentially more) that we’re getting. I’m sure it’ll be great, and I know I’ll end up buying it as soon as it’s available – I’m a big Abnett fan – but it’s just a bit frustrating to think that there’s going to be at least one cliffhanger to be patient with before the actual end of this story! Still, Abnett’s previous Siege of Terra novel Saturnine is easily my favourite of the series, and it gives me confidence that however fiendishly complicated this final instalment might have been to write, if anyone can do justice to it then Dan can. I am genuinely looking forward to finding out exactly how the Horus Heresy ends, I just hope we don’t have too long to wait until the final final volume is out!
Furious Heaven by Kate Elliott
March
The Republic of Chaonia fleets under the joint command of Princess Sun and her formidable mother, Queen-Marshal Eirene, have defeated and driven out an invading fleet of the Phene Empire, although not without heavy losses. But the Empire remains strong and undeterred. While Chaonia scrambles to rebuild its military, the Empire’s rulers are determined to squash Chaonia once and for all by any means necessary.
On the eve of Eirene’s bold attack on the rich and populous Karnos System, an unexpected tragedy strikes the republic. Sun must take charge or lose the throne. Will Sun be content with the pragmatic path laid out by her mother for Chaonia’s future? Or will she forge her own legend despite all the forces arrayed against her?
Book two in Elliot’s The Sun Chronicles, a “gender-swapped space opera trilogy inspired by the life of Alexander The Great”, I’ve been looking forward to this coming out ever since I read the first book – Unconquerable Sun – back in 2020 (here’s my review). I’m not all that well up on Greek history but I didn’t find that a problem whatsoever, so whatever your knowledge of Alexander the Great, if you enjoy a good space opera then this is very much a series to get on board with. Book two was supposed to be published in August 2022 but the release has been pushed back, however I’m happy to be patient and I’m still looking forward to reading this!
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty
March
A pirate of infamy and one of the most storied and scandalous captains to sail the seven seas.
Amina al-Sirafi has survived backstabbing rogues, vengeful merchant princes, several husbands, and one actual demon to retire peacefully with her family to a life of piety, motherhood, and absolutely nothing that hints of the supernatural.
But when she’s offered a job no bandit could refuse, she jumps at the chance for one final adventure with her old crew that will make her a legend and offers a fortune that will secure her and her family’s future forever.
Yet the deeper Amina dives the higher the stakes. For there’s always risk in wanting to become a legend, to seize one last chance at glory, to savour just a bit more power…and the price might be your very soul.
I don’t actually know a huge amount about this, but from what I’ve seen people saying about it – and from the synopsis – it just sounds like tremendous fun! Any book described as a “tale of pirates and sorcerers, forbidden artifacts and ancient mysteries” sounds right up my street, and I know we shouldn’t judge books by covers…but just look at that cover! I’ve only read one of Chakraborty’s previous novels – City of Brass, the first in her Daevabad trilogy – but I did enjoy it, and I’ve been meaning to read more of her work ever since. This seems like the perfect opportunity to try something completely new, and then hopefully go back and explore the rest of the Daevabad books.
Ascension by Nicholas Binge
April
A mind-bending speculative thriller in which the sudden appearance of a mountain in the middle of the Pacific Ocean leads a group of scientists to a series of jaw-dropping revelations that challenge the notion of what it means to be human.
An enormous snow-covered mountain has appeared in the Pacific Ocean. No one knows when exactly it showed up, precisely how big it might be, or how to explain its existence. When Harold Tunmore, a scientist of mysterious phenomena, is contacted by a shadowy organization to help investigate, he has no idea what he is getting into as he and his team set out for the mountain.
The higher Harold’s team ascends, the less things make sense. Time moves differently, turning minutes into hours, and hours into days. Amid the whipping cold of higher elevation, the climbers’ limbs numb and memories of their lives before the mountain begin to fade. Paranoia quickly turns to violence among the crew, and slithering, ancient creatures pursue them in the snow. Still, as the dangers increase, the mystery of the mountain compels them to its peak, where they are certain they will find their answers. Have they stumbled upon the greatest scientific discovery known to man or the seeds of their own demise?
Framed by the discovery of Harold Tunmore’s unsent letters to his family and the chilling and provocative story they tell, Ascension considers the limitations of science and faith and examines both the beautiful and the unsettling sides of human nature.
“A mind-bending speculative thriller.” “Interstellar meets The Martian.” “A survival tale, a horror story, and a thriller, all wrapped up with big bold speculative ideas.” Everything I’m hearing about this upcoming novel sounds fantastic, and suggests that this is another book that I’m going to absolutely love! Also, I’m a big fan of a good epistolary story. I’m not expecting an easy read necessarily, but I’m hoping it’s going to be the sort of book that stays with me for a good while after reading. I have a review copy of this already, and I’m hoping to make a start pretty soon.
The Archive Undying by Emma Mieko Candon
June
War machines and AI gods run amok in The Archive Undying, national bestseller Emma Mieko Candon’s bold entry into the world of mecha fiction.
WHEN AN AI DIES, ITS CITY DIES WITH IT
WHEN A CITY FALLS, IT LEAVES A CORPSE BEHIND
WHEN THAT CORPSE RUNS OFF, ONLY DEVOTION CAN BRING IT BACK
When the robotic god of Khuon Mo went mad, it destroyed everything it touched. It killed its priests, its city, and all its wondrous works. But in its final death throes, the god brought one thing back to life: its favorite child, Sunai. For the seventeen years since, Sunai has walked the land like a ghost, unable to die, unable to age, and unable to forget the horrors he’s seen. He’s run as far as he can from the wreckage of his faith, drowning himself in drink, drugs, and men. But when Sunai wakes up in the bed of the one man he never should have slept with, he finds himself on a path straight back into the world of gods and machines.
The Archive Undying is the first volume of Emma Mieko Candon’s Downworld Sequence, a sci-fi series where AI deities and brutal police states clash, wielding giant robots steered by pilot-priests with corrupted bodies.
Come get in the robot.
Emma Mieko Candon came to my attention with the incredible Star Wars novel Ronin, which completely blew me away. You can check out my review of that here. The minute I saw the cover of this, her debut original novel, I just knew I had to read it – and having read the synopsis I’m even more excited about it! I mean, come on – mad AI deities, giant robots (made out of dead gods!), queer romance, all wrapped up in a book about “surviving apocalypse” – what’s not to like about that! Can’t. Wait.
Winter’s Gifts by Ben Aaronovitch
June
This one doesn’t have a synopsis yet (or a finalised cover), but I don’t care. I love the Rivers of London series enough that I’ll buy each new book without even needing to know what it’s about, and with full confidence that I’ll enjoy it (I included novel number nine – Amongst Our Weapons – in last year’s TBR list, and loved it). Of course I do actually want to know what this is about, not least whether it’s part of the usual Peter Grant arc or something else – another Tobias Winter story, perhaps, given the title – but it’s going on the list regardless. The RoL novellas have been a little more hit and miss than the main-range novels, but I’m still confident that I’m going to love this.
Mindbreaker by Kate Dylan
September
No more quiet rebellions.
Born into a religious, anti-tech cult, seventeen-year-old Indra lives a simple, mod-free existence on the fringe of society. But when an illicit trip to the city leaves her with a debilitating – and terminal – condition, Indra must make a choice: die faithful, or betray her Order and accept the cure Glindell Technologies is offering.
Forced to sign over full ownership of her life, Indra is horrified to learn how Glindell chose to save her mind and body. On the outside, she still looks the same. On the inside, Indra’s not so sure. She’s missing time, for one thing, and more than once, she finds herself in places she really shouldn’t be, with no memory of how she got there and abilities she can’t explain.
So when news breaks of a vicious attack against Glindell’s biggest rival, Indra begins to suspect the worst about her new master. With help from her one friend at the company, Tian – a research assistant with a genius IQ and a smile that won’t quit – Indra manages to escape the lab. Then together with the anti-corp faction she and Tian turn to for help, Indra must uncover the truth behind the procedure that saved her life, before Glindell can use it to change the face of technology – and what it means to be human – forever.
Kate Dylan’s Mindwalker is totally brilliant, and comfortably one of my favourite books of the year – pacy and action-packed, with super-cool tech and some surprisingly, impressively dark and thought-provoking themes. Here’s my review. I love a ‘sequel’ that isn’t actually a sequel, but instead another story set in the same world, and that’s exactly what Mindbreaker is. It’s a great choice, to not worry about finding a way to continue a story that felt nicely self-contained in its own way, but rather to explore more of the same world from a different perspective, and I’m totally here for it. Looking forward to seeing the final cover, too.
Alecto the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
October
This is another book without a synopsis (or cover) yet, but once again that just doesn’t matter. In the slightest. After Nona the Ninth (which was on my TBR list last year, and which I loved – here’s my review) I am SO ready for this – I’m desperate to find out what happens next, and see if Muir can pull everything together into a conclusion that makes any kind of sense. To be honest, I’m fully expecting to have to read it at least twice (and I’m definitely revisiting Nona beforehand), and even then I’m half expecting to not fully understand everything…but this is that kind of series, and that’s a big part of why I like it so much. Whatever happens, I’m sure it’ll be batshit crazy and a lot of fun! Alecto might not actually arrive in 2023, but I have to hope.
System Collapse by Martha Wells
November
Yet another book without a synopsis and cover, and yet another series that doesn’t need synopses for me to want to read the next book! I’m utterly hooked on The Murderbot Diaries, even more so after revisiting the whole series in audio in 2022, so even a hint of a new book is enough to include it on this list. I wasn’t actually expecting any more Murderbot in 2023 but I saw on Twitter that the manuscript has been handed in for editing – hurrah! Of course that doesn’t actually mean that it’ll be out in 2023, and even if it is then the current ‘expected’ release date of November is a long way off, but I’ll wait patiently and keep hoping!
Luckily, I can cheat and include another Martha Wells book on this list as Witch King – a new fantasy novel – is due out in 2023! It’s not Murderbot, but it sounds cool, and it’s due out in May so there’s less of a wait.
Here’s the synopsis.
Kai’s having a long day in Martha Wells’ WITCH KING….
After being murdered, his consciousness dormant and unaware of the passing of time while confined in an elaborate water trap, Kai wakes to find a lesser mage attempting to harness Kai’s magic to his own advantage. That was never going to go well.
But why was Kai imprisoned in the first place? What has changed in the world since his assassination? And why does the Rising World Coalition appear to be growing in influence?
Kai will need to pull his allies close and draw on all his pain magic if he is to answer even the least of these questions.
He’s not going to like the answers.
***
There you have it then – the 10 (ok, 11) upcoming SFF novels that I’m most looking forward to reading in 2023. I’m sure there will be loads more announced and/or released over the coming months that I’m going to be keen to read too, but it’s good to have a solid list prepared and ready to go! Hopefully some of these have piqued your interest too – let me know if you’re particularly looking forward to any of these books, or if there are any others that are sitting right at the top of your own TBR list!
Make sure you check out the rest of the 2022 Track of Words Advent Calendar series, that I wrote this post as part of.
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