I’ve picked out March Releases I believe are the most interesting. Black SFF via Octavia Butler, an asian inspired queer feminist fantasy, complicated queer identities, frozen fantasy lands and some queens, a city comes alive, anti-capitalist sci-fi, Grease but gay, Mozart’s awesome sister, a girl inherits a dukedom and a warrior bride. Take your pick.
A Phoenix First Must Burn, edited by Patrice Caldwell. (March 10)
“Sixteen tales by bestselling and award-winning authors that explore the Black experience through fantasy, science fiction, and magic.”
This anthology is written in honor of Octavia Butler’s legacy. It is an anthology both inspired by Butler but also Beyoncé’s album Lemonade. Bringing forth the creative worlds Black women and gender nonconforming people create. Authors included: Elizabeth Acevedo, Amerie, Dhonielle Clayton, Jalissa Corrie, Somaiya Daud, Charlotte Davis, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Justina Ireland, Danny Lore, L.L. McKinney, Danielle Paige, Rebecca Roanhorse, Ashley Woodfolk, and Ibi Zoboi.
The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo (March 24)
With the heart of an Atwood tale and the visuals of a classic Asian period drama The Empress of Salt and Fortune is a tightly and lushly written narrative about empire, storytelling, and the anger of women.
This book is described as both a feminist fantasy and an indictment of monarchy. It’s queer ownvoices. I’m there. You’re for sure going to be there.
We Are Totally Normal by Rahul Kanakia (March 31)
“From Rahul Kanakia comes a raw and deeply felt story about rejecting labels, seeking connection, and finding yourself.”
We Are Totally Normal follows Nandan, an Indian-American teen dealing with identity and labels. I’ve heard interesting things about this book. This book, from what I’ve heard, is very complex and provides a look at queer identities not often given a chance. Kanakia is a trans author who makes it known that all sorts of books about queer identities should exist for teens. Just as we support positive experiences of queerness we should also support the complicated and sometimes messy experiences. Not every queer person experiences things like in a fluffy romcom. This book is giving complex characters and that sounds really interesting to me.
Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco (March 3rd)
This one is inspired by Chupeco’s own Filipino culture and throws it all into an original fantasy tale blender. A legendary Filipino heroine, a frozen land called Avalon, a prince, a deadly weapon, a long dead Snow queen. Yes to all that.
The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin (March 24)
Powerhouse N.K. Jemisin releases her first urban fantasy in a brand new series this month. New Yorkers come together to protect their city. Jemisin writes NYC as though it has a life.
Every city has a soul. Some are as ancient as myths, and others are as new and destructive as children. New York City? She’s got five.
This is a must. Jemisin writes the most inventive and bombtastic stories in fantasy.
Docile by K.M. Szpara (March 3rd)
Szpara writes about a society that uses “dociles”, sold body and soul for the owner of the contract. People are led to selling themselves to pay off debt. A world of drugs, wealth, and corruption ensues.
Docile is a science fiction parable about love and sex, wealth and debt, abuse and power, a challenging tour de force that at turns seduces and startles.
Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales (March 3rd)
This is marketed as a clueless boy meets boy Grease flavor of a book. Ollie and Will start a summer fling only to turn into the desire for something more. But then Ollie’s dreams are crushed when he sees him in a different light. At school, Will is a varsity boy. Gonzales writes a contemporary story of kids dealing with love, queer identity, and expectations.
The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu (March 3rd)
Lu writes one of those stories of women that historians have dug under the rug for so long. Mozart’s sister. Genius, a musical prodigy, and a girl.
Born with a gift for music, Nannerl Mozart has just one wish—to be remembered forever.
For Nannerl, a girl living in the 19th century composing music is forbidden. While her brother is allowed to shine brighter, she shrinks under the forceful expectations of her father. But Lu flips the switch and brings magic and history together. A stranger from a magical world offers her everything…at a price.
The Winter Duke by Claire Eliza Bartlett (March 3rd)
An enchanted tale of intrigue where a duke’s daughter is the only survivor of a magical curse.
A murderous family, an icy castle atop a frozen lake, an underwater kingdom, a sleeping sickness. Ekata inherits the dukedom and her brother’s warrior bride. Bartlett tells a fantasy inspired by Sleeping Beauty and Anastasia. And apparently it’s f/f with icy feels so clearly it’s at the top of my list.
Which of these books look the most interesting to you? Tell me which ones you want to read.
I really appreciate your posts and read them all. Thank you!
Sure! I hope you enjoy