Catalyst Gate by Megan E. O’Keefe

Unexpected plot twists have essentially become O’Keefe’s callsign, with all three books in this series delivering WTF moments every other chapter.

Unravel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim

I can’t discuss much of the plot and avoid spoilers for the first book, but I can say that while Spin the Dawn is seeded with hope, triumph and romance, Unravel the Dusk is conversely a tale of desperation and loss.

Sisters of the Vast Black by Lina Rather

Scientist nuns in space. A slug spaceship on heat. Sinister diseases. Sisters of the Vast Black is a little slice of sci-fi weirdness that I really enjoyed.

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

These stunning US and UK editions of Elizabeth Lim’s Asian-inspired YA novel Spin the Dawn have been stalking me on social media for a while now. When I noticed the book was still available on Netgalley, I requested a copy as motivation to jump into the series and see what all the fuss is about.

The Last Watch by J. S. Dewes

Being compared to A Game of Thrones might be a rite of passage for new release fantasy books, but I was somewhat surprised to see J. S. Dewes’ *sci-fi* debut receive the same treatment.

The Unbroken by C. L. Clark

The Unbroken reflects the stunningly illustrated Tommy Arnold cover as a story about gritty characters determined to make their mark on the world.

We Men of Ash and Shadow by HL Tinsley

We Men of Ash and Shadow has the themes and moody atmosphere that earns it a GD membership card, but Tinsley’s novel feels fresh, intelligent and bold.

Glitter + Ashes by dave ring (Editor)

Glitter + Ashes: Queer Tales of a World That Wouldn’t Die is an anthology of post-apocalyptic fiction published by Neon Hemlock, a small press specialising in speculative writing and queer chapbooks.

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna is a much darker YA novel than I was expecting, but one that ultimately drives home a message of truth and empowerment.

Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell

There’s been a lot of hype around Winter’s Orbit by Everina Mawell, which was originally published as an online series. Comparisons to Ancillary Justice, Gideon the Ninth and A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (and Red, White and Royal Blue, which I haven’t read) set my expectations sky-high, but the author has definitely delivered.