This post is a bit late, so some of these books are already out, but that just means you can immediately start reading them if they sound good to you!

I haven’t been on bookish social media much lately, so I had to do some searching to find these, and I was worried I’d have a hard time finding ten books to use. Instead I had a hard time narrowing the list down! Almost all of these are new-to-me authors, so if they’re also new to you, we’ll be discovering them together.

As usual, I’ve stuck to books releasing in the first half of the year for Part 1 (I think, I may have forgotten to check a date or two), and I’ll try to do Part 2 later in the year. All these books sound great though, and hopefully I can help you find some new ones you didn’t know about!

*If you’re considering buying any of these books from Amazon US, I’d appreciate it if you use my affiliate links! It will help support this blog at no additional cost to you!*

A Stage Over Ruthless Stars by JJ Clapton

A queer, chronically ill main character and a story that takes place in space at a circus. This book feels like it was written for me! Also inventions and murder and ex-best friends working together.
Amazon // Goodreads

When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley

Set in 1910s New York, a man falls in love with a merman in captivity being used as a Coney Island exhibit. Merman in captivity is not an entirely new idea, but it’s still a good one! Apparently this book also has some illustrations, and that’s always fun.
Amazon // Goodreads

Till Death by Kellan McDaniels

I just don’t think I’ll ever get tired of reading about queer vampires. And this one sounds like it could explore some topics, like discrimination and mortality and that age gap that sometimes happens when immortal creatures date humans, in interesting ways.
Amazon // Goodreads

Tea Leaves and Treetops by Isabeau Moon

I am loving this trend of cozy, low stakes, slice of life kinda fantasy books. And that’s what this one seems to be, about an elf making magic tea and a half-elf who wants to combine that with music. It sounds chill and magical.
Amazon // Goodreads

Blackblood by Kree Sullivan

You have to read the description for this one, it did such a great job of piquing my interest. Basically, there’s a truck full of magical artifacts and a fugitive mage and ex-girlfriends working together and a ragtag team on a mission and someone hunting them down. It sounds full of action and danger and interesting character dynamics.
Amazon // Goodreads

Blood Tethered by I.S. Belle

Yes, another vampire book because I wasn’t lying when I said I never tire of them 😅 A popular jock and a bad boy outcast who knows his secret working together, sort of enemies to lovers, I think. It sounds better in the actual description, trust me. It seems this is the start of a trilogy with all three books set to come out this year!
Amazon // Goodreads

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang

A dragon queen and a dragon hunter. One of those “Does she choose her duty or her heart?” books. Another premise that is not new but is great nonetheless! Bring on the angst.
Amazon // Goodreads

Hounded – Fire & Brimstone by Quinn Cameron

This book is about a hellhound and his phoenix boyfriend. If you know me at all, it should not surprise you that I’m excited about a book with such uncommon supernaturals. It also just sounds great and is another book on the list that includes duty vs love. Not sure if the illustrated edition is just a different cover, but I’ll link to both.
Amazon (Standard Edition) // Amazon (Illustrated Edition) // Goodreads

Don’t Sleep with the Dead by Nghi Vo

Gonna be honest, I have no idea what this is about. Apparently a Great Gatsby retelling? But it had me at, “pretending to be straight, pretending to be human, pretending he’s forgotten the events of that summer in 1922.” I need to know more!
Amazon // Goodreads

Love at Second Sight by FT Lukens

A normal human is going to a school full of teens with paranormal powers, and then he has a vision of a murder and wants to try and stop it. I’ve liked other FT Lukens books, and I’m always down for more paranormal stories!
Amazon // Goodreads