Genre literature gets a bad rap sometimes, and it shouldn’t. There are a lot of diverse, surprising, clever books in the sci-fi/fantasy genre that have plenty of literary merit and provide perspective beyond the traditional white male power fantasy. Many books written over the last few years have been part of series, and those series and standalones that have extended into 2024 are worth taking a look at. Some are YA, some are more mature, but all are perfect for a cozy winter evening, a New Year’s resolution, or a book club.
Ninth House Leigh by Leigh Bardugo
Leigh Bardugo cannot stop making bangers. From the Six of Crows duology to The Familiar, she has only shown exponential growth since her shaky start with the Shadow and Bone trilogy. Two books into this new series (the second, Hell Bent, being the most recent addition), she’s really establishing the foil to the cold, mercenary world of demons and Ivy League nepotism. Alex finally has friends and people she cares about protecting, and the chemistry she brings to her reckless life of college/demon hunting/rescue missions is as charming as it is heart-pounding.
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
What’s with all the “ninth” happening in fantasy right now? Whatever, these books are bonkers and amazing. The first is the clear winner, as the worldbuilding only gets murkier and more unhinged as we go along, but Nona the Ninth, the third installment, was still an adventurous, disturbing tale filled with a lot of answers and even more questions. We’re waiting for the final book, hopefully soon, but this series is the most unique experience I’ve ever had. It has everything, as long as by “everything” you mean lesbian necromancers in space.
The Scholomance by Naomi Novik
While this trilogy actually finished up a few years ago, it remains at the top of the list because of how relevant it is to today’s society. The main conceit—a school designed to protect vulnerable magical kids from the monsters they attract actually functions to prop up the privileged and sacrifice the poor and isolated—is a scathing indictment of modern pay-to-play educational systems. It also features a spunky and witheringly sarcastic protagonist who is so irritated that she has to keep saving the world that she hates, and the love story is sweet.
The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
This series has been going on so long that I have lost the plot a little bit (and I never keep the titles of each novella straight), but the voice is so charming. Murderbot is both genderless and autistic-coded, which is a breath of fresh air and an absolute delight. It is also a misanthropic robot with dim views of the human race and life in general, vastly preferring to watch TV shows and talk to no one. Relatable.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Susanna Clarke spent many years not writing because she was suffering from a chronic illness, so it’s lovely to get her words again. She is a master of worldbuilding, atmosphere, and tone. Piranesi is slight in pages but deep in experience, a strangely soothing exploration of trauma, grief, and the strange space of identity and solitude. It’s a mystery that is both puzzling and serene, and following it through its twists and turns is an absolute delight.
Leave a Reply