The last couple of years I’ve written articles looking ahead to the following 12 months and picking out upcoming books I’ve been looking forward to reading…so let’s carry on and do the same thing this year! From last year’s list, nine of the 10 books I chose were published (we’re still waiting on Alecto the Ninth, sadly) and I did manage to read six of them, so that’s not too bad. Let’s see if I manage more from this list! For each of the books I’ve chosen for this list I’ve included the official publisher’s synopsis and added a few of my own observations – and I’ve listed these books by their month of expected (UK) publication, based on the release dates that were correct at the time of writing.
The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older
February
Mossa has returned to Valdegeld on a missing person’s case, for which she’ll once again need Pleiti’s insight. Seventeen students and staff members have disappeared from Valdegeld University—yet no one has noticed. The answers to this case may lie on the moon of Io—Mossa’s home—and the history of Jupiter’s original settlements during humanity’s exodus from Earth.
But Pleiti’s faith in her life’s work as a scholar of the past has grown precarious, and this new case threatens to further destabilize her dreams for humanity’s future, as well as her own.
I read The Mimicking of Known Successes earlier this year and loved its blend of thoughtful SF adventure and detective story, with a splash of cosy academia. I’ve said it many times, but I do love a novella – and this is a great example of the form. The sequel was announced quite a while ago, and I’ve been looking forward ever since to returning to Valdegeld, and spending more time with Mossa and Pleiti!
The End And the Death Volume 3 by Dan Abnett
February (according to Amazon – no confirmation from BL yet)
The Great Angel, Sanguinius, lies slain at his brother’s hand.
Terra burns as reality itself unravels and the greatest bastion of civilisation teeters on the brink of annihilation.
Desperate defenders gather, banding against the rabid traitor hordes. The Hollow Mountain, host to the pilgrims of Euphrati Keeler, is one of the last redoubts, held by the Dark Angels while the unclean host of Typhus lays siege. Malcador the Sigillite sits ablaze on the Golden Throne, trying to buy his master more time. But time is running out…
Guilliman races across the stars to reinforce the Throneworld. Will he return to ashes, where a Warmaster of Chaos has ascended to godhood, or will the Emperor have triumphed? And at what cost?
It all comes down to one final, climactic confrontation: the Emperor versus Horus. The father against the son.
I almost didn’t include this, because to be honest I’ve been a bit underwhelmed by the first two volumes…and come on, did we really need three absolute doorstoppers in order to finish this series? Still, I can’t deny that I’m curious to find out how Abnett ties everything together, and the last book in the Horus Heresy series is going to be a landmark release for any Black Library fan.
Ahriman: Undying by John French
TBC (but February is a reasonable assumption)
One of several books on this list with no synopsis yet (or at least, not in English – and my German isn’t good enough for translation purposes!), this is an instant buy for me. I’ve talked loads before about how John French’s original Ahriman trilogy is right up there with my all time top BL series, so I was delighted when Ahriman: Eternal came out in 2022 (I thought it was great). I was hoping not to have to wait too long for the next one, and it was great to see confirmation recently of this coming out. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was released in February, as part of the Black Library Celebration…but whenever it comes out, I can’t wait to find out what Ahriman gets up to next with (I know I said there’s no synopsis yet, but you can find out a bit about what to expect here).
The Truth of the Aleke by Moses Ose Utomi
March
500 years after the events of The Lies of the Ajungo, the City of Truth stands as the last remaining free city of the Forever Desert. A bastion of freedom and peace, the city has successfully weathered near-constant attacks from the Cult of Tutu, who have besieged it for three centuries, attempting to destroy its warriors and subjugate its people.
Seventeen-year-old Osi is a Junior Peacekeeper in the City. When the mysterious leader of the Cult, known only as the Aleke, commits a massacre in the capitol and steals the sacred God’s Eyes, Osi steps forward to valiantly defend his home. For his bravery he is tasked with a tremendous responsibility—destroy the Cult of Tutu, bring back the God’s Eyes, and discover the truth of the Aleke.
Much like with Malka Older’s novellas, I read The Lies of the Ajungo earlier this year and was blown away, and have been patiently waiting for more ever since. I’m intrigued by the idea that rather than a straightforward sequel this is going to skip ahead in time and explore the same setting in a different way. It sounds fascinating, and I’m very much looking forward to returning to the Forever Desert and its people.
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark
April
Eveen the Eviscerator is skilled, discreet, professional, and here for your most pressing needs in the ancient city of Tal Abisi. Her guild is strong, her blades are sharp, and her rules are simple. Those sworn to the Matron of Assassins–resurrected, deadly, wiped of their memories–have only three unbreakable vows.
First, the contract must be just. That’s above Eveen’s pay grade.
Second, even the most powerful assassin may only kill the contracted. Eveen’s a professional. She’s never missed her mark.
The third and the simplest: once you accept a job, you must carry it out. And if you stray? A final death would be a mercy. When the Festival of the Clockwork King turns the city upside down, Eveen’s newest mission brings her face-to-face with a past she isn’t supposed to remember and a vow she can’t forget.
Having loved everything of Clark’s that I’ve read so far, the announcement of this new novel was very exciting news! On the one hand I have to say I’m a little sad that it isn’t set in the same world as A Master of Djinn, but on the other hand I’ll essentially read anything Clark writes so I’m very keen to explore a brand new setting too. And let’s face it, this sounds amazing – a “ fantastical city full of gods and assassins”? Yes please!
The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks
June
It is the end of the 19th Century and the world is awash with marvels. But there is nothing so marvellous as the Wastelands: a terrain of terrible miracles that lies between Beijing and Moscow.
Nothing touches this abandoned wilderness except the Great Trans-Siberian Express: an impenetrable train built to carry cargo across continents, but which now transports anyone who dares to cross the shadowy Wastelands.
On to the platform steps a curious cast of characters: a grieving woman with a borrowed name, a famous child born on the train and a disgraced naturalist, all heading for the Great Exhibition in Moscow.
But the old rules are changing, and there are whispers that the train isn’t safe. As secrets and stories begin to unravel the passengers and crew must survive their journey through the Wastelands together, even as something uncontrollable seems to be breaking in…
I obviously have to include this book, as it was written by my sister! I’m not just putting family first here though, as I’ve been looking forward to reading this for ages – ever since, in fact, I read Sarah’s short story in Interzone magazine (issue 249, if you’re interested) which inspired it. I’ve recently got my hands on an advance copy, so hopefully I’ll be reading it soon – watch this space to find out what I think!
The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
July
1950s Hollywood: Every actress wants to play Salome, the star-making role in a big-budget movie about the legendary woman whose story has inspired artists since ancient times.
So when the film’s mercurial director casts Vera Larios, an unknown Mexican ingenue, in the lead role, she quickly becomes the talk of the town. Vera also becomes an object of envy for Nancy Hartley, a bit player whose career has stalled and who will do anything to win the fame she believes she richly deserves.
Two actresses, both determined to make it to the top in Golden Age Hollywood-a city overflowing with gossip, scandal, and intrigue-make for a sizzling combination.
But this is the tale of three women, for it is also the story of the princess Salome herself, consumed with desire for the fiery prophet who foretells the doom of her stepfather, Herod: a woman torn between the decree of duty and the yearning of her heart.
Before the curtain comes down, there will be tears and tragedy aplenty in this sexy Technicolor saga.
I’ve basically reached the point at which I’ll read anything by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, without even needing to know what it’s about. Happily, this tale of Golden Age cinema sounds right up my street! It’s worth noting that this is straight-up historical fiction, with no speculative elements, but I’m totally fine with that – no SFF required! I know I tend to focus on SFF here, but even Moreno-Garcia’s most speculative stories have always felt deeply rooted in historical reality to me, so I fully expect I’ll love this as much as her previous books.
Navola by Paolo Bacigalupi
July
Navola is a city built on trade.
Its palazzos and towers are conjured from its merchant wealth: barley and rice, flax and wool, iron and silver, arms, armies, lives and kingdoms are all traded here.
And presiding over it all, the Regulai bank. By guile, force of arms and the cast-iron might of their money and promises, in just three generations the Regulai family have risen far from their humble origins: merchants beg their backing, artists their patronage, princes an invitation to dine at their table. The di Regulai say they are not political, but their wealth buys cities and topples kingdoms.
Soon, Davico di Regulai will be expected to take the reins of power. But the boy is not well-suited for his role. His heart is soft where it should be hard. He is credulous when he should be suspicious. He is tired of being tested and trained to inherit a legacy he is not sure he wants.
But Davico is inextricably tangled in fate’s net and his doubts can only summon ruin.
In the shade of Navola’s colonnaded porticoes, his family’s enemies gather and plot.
In the shadows of its deep catacombs, assassins sharpen their stiletto knives.
In the kingdoms of Cerulean Peninsula, princes and despots muster their armies.
Davico’s only hope rests in the heart of a girl whose own family was destroyed by the di Regulai, and in a crystalline orb the size of a human head, said to be the eye of a long-dead dragon.
First, that might be the longest synopsis I’ve ever come across! Secondly, I think this sounds amazing – and it’s been a long time since I last read anything by Bacigalupi…long enough that I really ought to remedy that! His books are always complex but richly engaging, and the world described in this synopsis sounds like the sort of setup that I’m confident he’ll be able to use as a fascinating backdrop to a typically thought-provoking story. I haven’t seen much talk about this one, but based on what I’ve read of his work before I’m expecting it to be excellent.
The Land of the Living and the Dead by Shauna Lawless
September
The third novel in Shauna Lawless’ Gael Song saga doesn’t have a synopsis yet, but after devouring the first two books (The Children of Gods and Fighting Men and The Words of Kings and Prophets) this year I’m chomping at the bit to get hold of this and finish the trilogy! As Shauna revealed in her recent guest post, there’s going to be more to come still, which is fantastic news for anyone interested in this sort of richly textured, characterful historical fantasy. I can’t wait to read this, and to find out more about what’s coming next!
The Masquerades of Spring by Ben Aaronovitch
September
Meet Augustus Berrycloth-Young – fop, flaneur, and Englishman abroad – as he chronicles the Jazz Age from his perch atop the city that never sleeps.
That is, until his old friend Thomas Nightingale arrives, pursuing a rather mysterious affair concerning an old saxophone – which will take Gussie from his warm bed, to the cold shores of Long Island, and down to the jazz clubs where music, magic, and madness haunt the shadows…
Any new Rivers of London book is an instant buy for me, so as soon as I saw that this was coming out in 2024 I knew I’d be getting hold of it as soon as it’s out. To be honest I’m a little surprised to see another novella coming after this year’s Winter’s Gifts, as I’d assumed the next book would be a novel, but that’s ok – I can be patient and wait a bit longer for the next novel! And once I realised this was going to feature a younger iteration of Nightingale…that was all I needed to know. This is going to be super interesting!
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So there you go, the 10 books that I am (and in some cases have been for a while) particularly looking forward to coming out in 2024. Over the course of publishing this year’s Advent Calendar series, however, I spoke to loads of fantastic authors about their upcoming books in 2024. I couldn’t help but get caught up in the excitement for these releases, so if you’re still on the lookout for more books coming out in 2024, and if you haven’t already done so, do check out the various ‘looking ahead to 2024’ posts from this year’s Advent Calendar series:
Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson: The Principle of Moments is coming out in January, and you can check out her guest post Exploring New Worlds for more details, plus three SFF writers to be on the lookout for.
Frances White: closed-room fantasy murder mystery Voyage of the Damned is coming out in January (I’ve read it, and it’s wonderful!), and you can read all about it in this Author Interview with Frances.
Bradley P. Beaulieu: The Dragons of Deepwood Fen is coming out in January, and you can find out more about it in this Author Interview with Bradley.
Gourav Mohanty: Sons of Darkness is already out in the UK, but coming out in the US in January, and you can get a taste of what to expect from this Behind the Scene excerpt.
Eliza Chan: Fathomfolk is coming out in February, and you can check out her guest post Eight Books I Rate to find out more about it, and for details of eight intriguing 2024 titles.
Luna novellas: three new novellas are coming in February, from Knicky L. Abbott (Tanglewood), CL Farley (The Invisible Girl) and Lorraine Wilson (The Last To Drown). You can read about each one in the Author Interviews I ran with each author (click on the links above for these).
Josh Reynolds: Do Or Die is out now as an audiobook, ebook and US paperback, with the UK paperback coming in February. You can read the opening chapter, and a fascinating introduction from Josh, in this Behind The Scene post.
Sebastien de Castell: Play of Shadows is coming out in March, and you can check out this Behind The Scene post for an excerpt and an introduction from Sebastien.
Thomas Parrott: Hunted is coming out in January (in audiobook/ebook/US paperback – UK paperback coming in March), and you can read about Tom’s journey to finishing the trilogy in his guest post On The Nature Of Trilogies And Tie-ins.
Genoveva Dimova: Foul Days comes out in June, and you can check out her guest post 12 Debuts to Look Forward to in 2024 for more information, and a look ahead to loads more fantasy debuts coming in 2024.
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There will no doubt be lots of amazing books announced and released later on in 2024, and I’m sure I’ll be adding plenty more to my TBR over the coming months, but hopefully that’s given you lots of inspiration for books to add to your own TBR lists for 2024! I’d love to know what you’re looking forward to reading next year, so please do let me know in the comments below or over on social media.
And with this article done, that brings the 2023 Track of Words Advent Calendar to a close – I hope you’ve enjoyed all of this year’s posts! Huge thanks to all the authors who have contributed to the Advent Calendar, and everyone at the various publishers who have helped me to put this together.
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